HOUSE BILL No. 5330

 

September 10, 2009, Introduced by Reps. Opsommer, Miller and Lindberg and referred to the Committee on Labor.

 

     A bill to prohibit employers from making certain inquiries in

 

the hiring process; to prohibit employment decisions based on legal

 

ownership or use of a firearm that is unrelated to employment; and

 

to provide remedies.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the

 

"employee firearm ownership protection act".

 

     Sec. 3. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Employee" means an individual who receives compensation

 

for performing services for an employer under an express or implied

 

contract of hire.

 

     (b) "Employer" means an individual or entity that permits an

 

individual to work at any time during the calendar year or accepts


 

applications for employment for a position during the calendar

 

year, or an agent of that individual or entity.

 

     Sec. 5. (1) Except as provided in this section, an employer

 

shall not do either of the following:

 

     (a) Fail or refuse to hire or recruit, discharge, or otherwise

 

discriminate against an individual with respect to employment,

 

compensation, or a term, condition, or privilege of employment

 

because the employee is, or is believed to be, the legal owner of a

 

firearm.

 

     (b) Ask a firearm-related question during the job interview

 

process.

 

     (2) The prohibition in subsection (1) does not apply to any of

 

the following:

 

     (a) Firearm ownership or a question concerning firearm

 

ownership or use that directly relates to an established bona fide

 

occupational requirement or an employment activity or

 

responsibility of a particular employee or a particular group of an

 

employer's employees.

 

     (b) A requirement that is otherwise addressed under state or

 

federal law, regulation, or rule.

 

     Sec. 7. A person shall not retaliate or discriminate against a

 

person because the person has done or was about to do any of the

 

following:

 

     (a) File a complaint under this act.

 

     (b) Testify, assist, or participate in an investigation,

 

proceeding, or action concerning a violation of this act.

 

     (c) Oppose a violation of this act.


 

     Sec. 9. An employer shall not require an applicant for

 

employment or an employee to waive any right under this act. An

 

agreement by an applicant or employee to waive any right under this

 

act is invalid and unenforceable.

 

     Sec. 11. (1) A person who is injured by a violation of this

 

act may bring a civil suit in a court of competent jurisdiction to

 

obtain injunctive relief and damages.

 

     (2) The court shall award costs and reasonable attorney fees

 

to a person who prevails as a plaintiff in a suit authorized under

 

subsection (1).