The proposed bill amends the North Dakota Century Code to enhance protections against discrimination by adding "health status" as a protected category. Key amendments include the insertion of "health status" in multiple sections, such as 14-02.4-01, 14-02.4-03, and 14-02.4-04, which explicitly prohibit discrimination based on health status in employment, public accommodations, and services. The bill also clarifies that health status includes an individual's preferences regarding medical procedures and treatments. Additionally, Section 14-02.4-17 is amended to prohibit discrimination in credit transactions based on health status, while still allowing consideration of a person's credit history.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a new section that allows healthcare facilities to inquire about an employee's health status for reasonable accommodations related to communicable diseases without being deemed discriminatory. It specifies that employees who do not provide health status information may be considered at risk for such diseases. To support the implementation of these changes, the bill appropriates $25,000 from the general fund to the Department of Labor and Human Rights for addressing claims related to health status during the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 14-02.4-01, 14-02.4-02, 14-02.4-03, 14-02.4-04, 14-02.4-05, 14-02.4-06, 14-02.4-08, 14-02.4-09, 14-02.4-14, 14-02.4-15, 14-02.4-16, 14-02.4-17
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Rohr: 14-02.4-01, 14-02.4-02, 14-02.4-03, 14-02.4-04, 14-02.4-05, 14-02.4-06, 14-02.4-08, 14-02.4-09, 14-02.4-14, 14-02.4-15, 14-02.4-16, 14-02.4-17
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 14-02.4-01, 14-02.4-02, 14-02.4-03, 14-02.4-04, 14-02.4-05, 14-02.4-06, 14-02.4-08, 14-02.4-09, 14-02.4-14, 14-02.4-15, 14-02.4-16, 14-02.4-17
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Boehm: 14-02.4-01, 14-02.4-02, 14-02.4-03, 14-02.4-04, 14-02.4-05, 14-02.4-06, 14-02.4-08, 14-02.4-09, 14-02.4-14, 14-02.4-15, 14-02.4-16, 14-02.4-17