by Patricia A. Schaeffer, Vice President-Regulatory Affairs
On January 24, 2008, Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) introduced the Civil Rights Act of 2008 (S. 2554/H.R. 5129). The Senate bill has 19 co-sponsors, including Democratic presidential candidates, Senators Clinton and Obama. The House bill has 26 co-sponsors. According to the sponsors, the key provisions of the bill would:
Allow individuals to seek relief when federal funds subsidize practices that have an unjustified discriminatory effect.
Protect students from harassment in schools that received federal funds.
Make state employers fully accountable for age discrimination.
Clarify the standard for challenging employment practices that have a discriminatory effect based on age.
Improve accountability for other violations of civil rights and workers’ rights.
DCI Consulting Group