Friday, March 26, was the deadline for substantive bills to pass out of both House and Senate committees.

Out of the more than 6,000 proposed bills, over 200 Senate bills and 600 House bills passed out of committee to “second reading.” Many of these will need amended language before moving forward for full consideration from the respective chambers.  

Spring break

Both Chambers are on a two-week break, but work continues for some key committees. The House Labor Committee will be hearing testimony on HB 3530, the Employee Security Act, which has the support of organized labor. NFIB opposes the bill, which would upend long-held workplace relationships between employers and employees, such as “at-will” employment.

Here some of the many onerous provisions:

• Limiting an employer’s ability to discharge an employee for only “just cause”.
• Prohibiting elimination of staff redundancy created by a merger.
• Prohibiting employers from discharging an employee for off-duty conduct unless there is a demonstrable nexus between the conduct and the employee’s job performance or the employer’s legitimate business interests.
• Requiring an employer, under its progressive discipline process to provide at least 15 days between a warning or discipline and termination.
• Failure to provide notice within 3 days of discharge is deemed an “unjust” discharge.
• Both a day and temporary labor services agency and their third-party client are deemed to be the employer of the employee and are jointly and severally responsible for compliance with this Act’s requirements.
• Provides extensive administrative and civil monetary remedies.