IMMUNITY FOR EMPLOYER REFERENCES H.B. 5137 (H-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5137 (Substitute H-2 as reported without amendment) Sponsor: Representative Gerald Law
House Committee: Human Resources and Labor
Senate Committee: Human Resources, Labor and Veterans Affairs
The bill would create a new act to provide that an “employer” could disclose to an “employee” or that person’s “prospective employer” information relating to the employee’s job performance that was documented in his or her personnel file, upon the request of the employee or his or her prospective employer. An employer who disclosed information under the bill in good faith would be immune from civil liability for that disclosure.
An employer would be presumed to be acting in good faith at the time of a disclosure unless a preponderance of the evidence established one or more of the following:
-- The employer knew the information disclosed was false or misleading.
-- The employer disclosed the information with a reckless disregard for the truth.
-- The disclosure was specifically prohibited by a State or Federal statute.
“Employer” would mean a person who employed an individual for compensation or who supervised an individual providing volunteer labor; “employee” would mean an individual who, as a volunteer or for compensation, provided an employer with labor; and “prospective employer” would mean a person to whom an employee or former employee had submitted an application for employment.
Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 1-25-96 Fiscal Analyst: K. Lindquist
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.