The proposed bill amends the North Dakota Century Code to enhance protections against discrimination based on health status, adding it to the list of protected categories in employment, public accommodations, and public services. This inclusion prohibits discrimination based on an individual's health preferences or their right to refuse medical procedures. The bill also defines "health status" as an individual's preferences related to medical procedures, treatments, injections, devices, vaccines, or prophylactics. Additionally, it amends Section 14-02.4-17 to ensure that discrimination in credit transactions based on health status is prohibited, while still allowing consideration of credit history.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that health care facilities are not engaging in unlawful discrimination when they inquire about an employee's health status for safety measures against communicable diseases. It permits these facilities to request voluntary health information from employees and to make reasonable accommodations based on that information. To support the implementation of these provisions, the bill appropriates $25,000 from the general fund to the Department of Labor and Human Rights to address claims related to health status for 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