HB 553

Abstract

Policies against workplace harassment; legislative branch. Requires each legislative branch agency to adopt and implement the Commonwealth Workplace Harassment Policy established by the Department of Human Resource Management. The bill provides that the Policy applies to legislative branch employees, including General Assembly members and members-elect, when undertaking meetings with other state employees, contract employees, applicants for employment, customers, vendors, members of the media, members of the public, volunteers, or lobbyists or when conducting or performing election activities in the scope of official duties.Under the bill, a victim of alleged workplace harassment will be able to file a complaint against a legislative branch employee, other than a member of the General Assembly, in accordance with the procedures of the Policy or with the Division of Human Rights in the Office of the Attorney General. The Division of Human Rights is authorized to investigate the complaint and use any other powers with regard to the complaint granted to it under law. The bill requires each house of the General Assembly to adopt rules governing procedures and disciplinary sanctions for General Assembly members and members-elect violating policies against workplace harassment.The 2018 Session of the General Assembly enacted legislation requiring full-time legislative branch employees to complete a sexual harassment training course once every two calendar years beginning January 1, 2020. In addition to other differences, this bill broadens the scope of training for legislative branch employees and provides for punitive damages if a party complaining of workplace harassment demonstrates that the defendant engaged in a discriminatory practice with malice or reckless indifference. The bill contains a reenactment clause and has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2022.

Policies against workplace harassment; legislative branch.Requires each legislative branch agency to adopt and implement the CommonwealthWorkplace Harassment Policy established by the Department of Human Resource Management.The bill provides that the Policy applies to legislative branch employees,including General Assembly members and members-elect, when undertaking meetingswith other state employees, contract employees, applicants for employment,customers, vendors, members of the media, members of the public, volunteers, orlobbyists or when conducting or performing election activities in the scope ofofficial duties.Under the bill, a victim of alleged workplace harassment willbe able to file a complaint against a legislative branch employee, other than amember of the General Assembly, in accordance with the procedures of the Policyor with the Division of Human Rights in the Office of the Attorney General. TheDivision of Human Rights is authorized to investigate the complaint and use anyother powers with regard to the complaint granted to it under law. The billrequires each house of the General Assembly to adopt rules governing proceduresand disciplinary sanctions for General Assembly members and members-electviolating policies against workplace harassment.The 2018 Session of the General Assembly enacted legislationrequiring full-time legislative branch employees to complete a sexualharassment training course once every two calendar years beginning January 1,2020. In addition to other differences, this bill broadens the scope oftraining for legislative branch employees and provides for punitive damages ifa party complaining of workplace harassment demonstrates that the defendantengaged in a discriminatory practice with malice or reckless indifference. Thebill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021.