Bill

HB 786

85(R) - 2017
House Business & Industry
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House Business & Industry

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Gary VanDeaver

Bill Caption

Relating to the prohibition of certain employment discrimination regarding an employee who is a volunteer emergency responder.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

Bill Analysis

HB 786 would bar any employer from taking action or discriminating against an employee that is absent from work because they are a volunteer emergency responder. This bill provides a number of regulations governing the employee-employer relationship with respect to this issue including notification procedures and certain exemptions. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

Giving preferential treatment to one group of citizens to the exclusion of other groups is not the proper role of government. This new mandate on private employers would violate our limited government principle. This would place a burden on employers who employ volunteer emergency responders who have to spend time away from work. This also interferes with the employer-employee relationship and likely will make emergency responders less attractive recruits as prospective employees. For these reasons we oppose HB 786.