SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1517        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 978

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis

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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 the fair treatment of employees.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1517        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 978

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to the fair treatment of employees.

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. Section 2 of chapter 94G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (e).

SECTION 2. Chapter 94G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 21, the following section:-

Section 22.

(a) An employer may not discriminate against a person in hiring, termination or imposing any term or condition of employment or otherwise penalize a person based upon a person’s use of marijuana provided that:- (i) The use of marijuana by the employee is neither in the work place during work hours, nor while the employee is performing tasks related to employment; and (ii) an employee is not impaired  due to the consumption of marijuana in the workplace or while performing tasks related to employment.

(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to employers who are compelled to test for marijuana due to requirements established by the federal government.

(c) Nothing in this Section prohibits an employer from taking adverse employment action: (i) if an employee who is unable to maintain licenses, credentials, or other qualifications that are reasonably necessary for the performance of the employee’s position, even if such licensing, credentialing, or other qualifications prohibit the employee from using marijuana; or (ii) the employee is charged with a crime relating to his or her use, possession, sale, manufacture, distribution, dispensation, or transfer of marijuana and, based on the employer’s investigation into the matter, the employer reasonably believes the employee committed a crime.

(d) Any person claiming to be aggrieved under subsection (a) may bring a civil action under this section for damages or injunctive relief, or both, and shall be entitled to a trial by jury on any issue of fact in an action for damages regardless of whether equitable relief is sought by a party in such action. If the court finds for the petitioner, recovery shall be in the amount of actual damages; or up to 2 times such amount if the court finds that the act or practice complained of was committed with knowledge, or reason to know, that such act or practice violated the provisions of this section.

(e) The executive office of labor and workforce development in consultation with the executive office of public safety and security shall promulgate regulations to enforce this section.