Assembly Bill 513 aims to enhance the legal recourse available to individuals alleging discrimination in employment, unfair honesty testing, or unfair genetic testing. The bill allows individuals or the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to file a civil action in circuit court for compensatory and punitive damages, in addition to or instead of filing an administrative complaint. This action must be initiated within 300 days of the alleged discrimination. If the court finds in favor of the plaintiff, it can award back pay and other relief similar to what could be granted in an administrative proceeding, along with compensatory and punitive damages subject to specified caps based on the size of the employer.

The bill also introduces new provisions regarding the notification process for complainants and the rights to seek judicial review. Specifically, it amends existing statutes to require DWD to inform complainants about their rights to pursue legal action and to create a new statute that outlines the process for bringing civil actions in circuit court. Additionally, the bill mandates that the DWD adjust the damage caps annually based on changes in the consumer price index. Overall, this legislation seeks to provide greater protections and remedies for individuals facing discrimination in the workplace.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 111.39(4)(d), 111.39, 111.39(5)(b), 814.04(intro.), 814.04