HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4012 FILED ON: 2/19/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Alyson M. Sullivan
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act strengthening sexual harassment and discrimination policies in the commonwealth.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Alyson M. Sullivan 7th Plymouth 2/19/2021
David F. DeCoste 5th Plymouth 2/19/2021
Diana DiZoglio First Essex 2/19/2021
Joseph D. McKenna 18th Worcester 2/19/2021
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 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4012 FILED ON: 2/19/2021
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[Pin Slip]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
_______________
An Act strengthening sexual harassment and discrimination policies in the commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 4 of chapter 151B of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2 striking out subsection 16A and inserting in place thereof the following:-
3
4 16A. For an employer, personally or through its agents, to sexually harass any employee;
5 or to retaliate, personally or through its agents, against any employee for filing a complaint of
6 sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation or for
7 cooperating in an investigation of a complaint of sexual harassment or discrimination based on
8 sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, by termination,
9 suspension, demotion or reduction in the compensation or benefits of the employee; or to require,
10 as a condition of employment, continuing employment, promotion, compensation or the receipt
11 of benefits, entering into an agreement that contains a nondisclosure or confidentiality provision
12 (except as may be necessary to protect business intellectual property and trade secrets), a non-
13 disparagement provision, a restriction on reporting sexual harassment or discrimination based on
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14 sex, gender identity or sexual orientation or participating in the investigation of a report of sexual
15 harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, or a waiver of
16 any rights or remedies available under law with respect to claims filed or that may be filed in a
17 civil action or complaints filed or that may be filed in an administrative action for sexual
18 harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 151B-4