HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 195        FILED ON: 1/9/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1625

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Kenneth I. Gordon

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to defense against abusive waivers.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Kenneth I. Gordon

21st Middlesex

1/8/2019

Peter Capano

11th Essex

1/14/2019

Lori A. Ehrlich

8th Essex

1/23/2019

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

1/23/2019

David Paul Linsky

5th Middlesex

1/23/2019

Carolyn C. Dykema

8th Middlesex

1/24/2019

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

1/25/2019

Christine P. Barber

34th Middlesex

1/31/2019

Jennifer E. Benson

37th Middlesex

1/31/2019

Paul Brodeur

32nd Middlesex

2/1/2019

Harriette L. Chandler

First Worcester

1/28/2019

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Daniel R. Cullinane

12th Suffolk

2/1/2019

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

1/29/2019

Mindy Domb

3rd Hampshire

1/30/2019

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

1/29/2019

Tricia Farley-Bouvier

3rd Berkshire

1/25/2019

Michael J. Finn

6th Hampden

1/30/2019

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

1/26/2019

Denise C. Garlick

13th Norfolk

1/29/2019

Carmine Lawrence Gentile

13th Middlesex

1/28/2019

Stephan Hay

3rd Worcester

1/24/2019

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

1/28/2019

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

1/31/2019

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

1/28/2019

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

1/29/2019

John J. Lawn, Jr.

10th Middlesex

1/30/2019

David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf

17th Worcester

1/28/2019

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Jay D. Livingstone

8th Suffolk

1/29/2019

Paul W. Mark

2nd Berkshire

2/1/2019

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

1/31/2019

Christina A. Minicucci

14th Essex

1/28/2019

Brian W. Murray

10th Worcester

1/30/2019

Tram T. Nguyen

18th Essex

1/25/2019

Jerald A. Parisella

6th Essex

2/1/2019

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

1/28/2019

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

1/30/2019

David Allen Robertson

19th Middlesex

1/24/2019

Maria Duaime Robinson

6th Middlesex

1/29/2019

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

1/24/2019

Jeffrey N. Roy

10th Norfolk

2/1/2019

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

1/30/2019

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

1/25/2019

Tommy Vitolo

15th Norfolk

1/29/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 195        FILED ON: 1/9/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1625

By Mr. Gordon of Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1625) of Kenneth I. Gordon and others relative to employment contracts waiving certain substantive or procedural rights or remedies.  Labor and Workforce Development.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act relative to defense against abusive waivers.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 149 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 192. (a) To the extent not preempted by federal law, a provision in a contract waiving a substantive or procedural right or remedy relating to a claim of discrimination, nonpayment of wages or benefits, retaliation, harassment or violation of public policy in employment shall be unconscionable, void and unenforceable with respect to any such claim arising after the waiver is made.  No right or remedy arising under this section, chapter, chapter 151B, common law, the constitution or a rule of procedure may be prospectively waived.  If a provision of a contract is found to be unconscionable, void or unenforceable under this section, the remaining provisions of the contract shall continue in full force and effect.

(b) Whoever enforces or attempts to enforce a waiver found to be unconscionable, void or unenforceable under this section shall be liable for reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

(c) No person or employer shall take retaliatory action including, but not limited to, failure to hire, discharge, suspend, demote or discriminate in the terms, conditions or privileges of employment, or any other adverse action, against a person because the person refuses to enter into a contract that contains a waiver that would be unconscionable, void or unenforceable under this section.

A person aggrieved by a violation of this section may, within 3 years after the violation, commence a civil action in such person’s own name and on such person’s own behalf for damages and injunctive relief.  If the court finds that a person was aggrieved by a violation of this section, the person may recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.  The rights and remedies in this section shall not be exclusive and shall not preempt other available procedures and remedies for retaliatory actions including, but not limited to, those contained in section 150 and section 4 of chapter 151B.

(d) The attorney general may enforce this section if the substantive or procedural right or remedy at issue arises under section 150.

(e) The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination may enforce this section if the substantive or procedural right or remedy at issue arises under chapter 151B.

(f) A person aggrieved by a violation of chapter 151B who seeks a remedy other than: (i) nonenforcement of a provision prohibited by this section; or (ii) reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs for enforcement of a provision prohibited by this section shall seek such remedy under said chapter 151B.

(g) Nothing in this section shall expand or limit the use of collective bargaining agreements.

SECTION 2. Section 192 of chapter 149 of the General Laws shall apply to contracts entered into on or after the effective date of this act.