Missoula County opposes SB 313 – Generally revise enforcement of discrimination laws, being heard in Senate Judiciary tomorrow morning. SB 313 would impact Missoula County’s defense of Human Rights Bureau cases in that a complainant/plaintiff would be able to file a civil suit upon an informal cause finding, which will circumvent the administrative appeals process that exists in the Human Rights Act. The Human Rights Act is designed to ensure that both the employee and the employer’s rights are protected by allowing a case to bypass the appeal process and proceed directly to filing a civil suit. Currently, a plaintiff can only file a civil suit if there is a no cause finding. If there is a cause finding, the plaintiff would have to go through the Human Rights Bureau process. SB 313 would increase district court filings, attorney fees and costs to settle. The current process has helped Missoula County avoid costly jury trials while still protecting employee and employer’s rights in such cases.
Send afternoon of 2/26:
ReplyDeleteSenators Sands and Bennett,
Missoula County opposes SB 313 – Generally revise enforcement of discrimination laws, being heard in Senate Judiciary tomorrow morning. SB 313 would impact Missoula County’s defense of Human Rights Bureau cases in that a complainant/plaintiff would be able to file a civil suit upon an informal cause finding, which will circumvent the administrative appeals process that exists in the Human Rights Act. The Human Rights Act is designed to ensure that both the employee and the employer’s rights are protected by allowing a case to bypass the appeal process and proceed directly to filing a civil suit. Currently, a plaintiff can only file a civil suit if there is a no cause finding. If there is a cause finding, the plaintiff would have to go through the Human Rights Bureau process. SB 313 would increase district court filings, attorney fees and costs to settle. The current process has helped Missoula County avoid costly jury trials while still protecting employee and employer’s rights in such cases.
Please oppose SB 313.
Amended - no further concerns.
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