News about current legislation affecting workplace rights before the U.S. Congress and the legislatures of all 50 states.
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Transgendered gain a shield from anti-discrimination law
Source: The Star Ledger
Date: December 20, 2006
Gov. Jon Corzine signed a bill yesterday amending the state's anti-discrimination law
to include transgender people. The law, which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public
accommodation, is "one of the most powerful tools we have in government to protect our citizens," Corzine said.
"I am pleased to sign legislation to ensure gender identity or expression is a protected class against
discrimination in New Jersey."
Anti-bias bill would protect sex changers
Source: Ruth Padawer, NorthJersey.com
Date: December 2, 2005
New Jersey's anti-discrimination law, already one
of the toughest in the nation, would protect cross-dressers and people who change their sex if a bill that
appears headed for victory in the Assembly becomes law. The proposal, which has bipartisan support, would add
"gender identity or expression" to the classes safeguarded from discrimination in employment, housing and
public accommodation. If the bill passes, New Jersey would become the seventh state to protect transgender
people, joining Maine, Rhode Island, California, New Mexico, Illinois and Minnesota.
Bill Would Allow Citizens to Sue for Civil Rights
Source: NJ.com
Date: May 7, 2004
A bill to
establish a New Jersey Civil Rights Act allowing citizens to sue in state court for any violation of their
civil rights was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday. The bill would allow the attorney
general to bring civil actions against any individual who deprives another person of his rights and allow
individuals whose rights are violated to sue for money damages. Some lawyers question whether it would
meaningfully add to the protections already provided by the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, one of the
oldest and toughest anti-bias laws in the country. Supporters of the Civil Rights Act say it would cover an
even broader range of civil rights violations that currently can be addressed only through a lawsuit in federal
court.
New Jersey Bans Forced Overtime for Health Care Workers
Source: Associated Press, CNN.com
Date: February 21, 2004
After a five-year battle, New Jersey now has a state law barring hospitals and nursing homes from
forcing health care employees to work overtime except in emergencies. Nurses and union officials say the law,
only the second in the nation, should improve patient safety and prevent mistakes that can be committed by
people who have been on the job for up to 16 hours. "It's really hard when you're doing a 10-hour (day) shift
to be told when you come in you may have to stay until 7:30 the next morning," said Noreen Malloy, a registered
nurse at Bayonne Medical Center for 33 years. With the law that went into effect Tuesday, New Jersey joins only
Washington state in banning mandatory overtime at health facilities.
