Bill Text: NJ S121 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Bars provisions in employment contracts that waive rights or remedies; bars agreements that conceal details relating to discrimination claims.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-2)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-18 - Approved P.L.2019, c.39. [S121 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S121-Amended.html
SENATE, No. 121
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
Senator NIA H. GILL
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Bars provisions in employment contracts that waive rights or remedies; bars agreements that conceal details relating to discrimination claims.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Labor Committee on March 5, 2018, with amendments.
An Act concerning discrimination and supplementing Title 10 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A provision in any employment contract that waives any substantive or procedural right or remedy relating to a claim of discrimination, retaliation, or harassment shall be deemed against public policy and unenforceable.
b. No right or remedy under the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.) or any other statute or case law shall be prospectively waived.
c. This section shall not apply to the terms of any collective bargaining agreement between an employer and the collective bargaining representative of the employees.
2. a. A provision in any employment contract or 1settlement1 agreement which has the purpose or effect of concealing the details relating to a claim of discrimination, retaliation, or harassment 1(hereinafter referred to as a "non-disclosure provision")1 shall be deemed against public policy and unenforceable 1against a current or former employee (hereinafter referred to as an "employee") who is a party to the contract or settlement. If the employee publicly reveals sufficient details of the claim so that the employer is reasonably identifiable, then the non-disclosure provision shall also be unenforceable against the employer.
b. Every settlement agreement resolving a discrimination, retaliation, or harassment claim by an employee against an employer shall include a bold, prominently placed notice that although the parties may have agreed to keep the settlement and underlying facts confidential, such a provision in an agreement is unenforceable against the employer if the employee publicly reveals sufficient details of the claim so that the employer is reasonably identifiable1.
3. A person who enforces or attempts to enforce a provision deemed against public policy and unenforceable pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be liable for the employee's reasonable attorney fees and costs.
4. No person shall take any
retaliatory action, including but not limited to failure to hire, discharge,
suspension, demotion,
discrimination in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, or other
adverse action, against a person, on grounds that the person does not enter
into an agreement or contract that contains a provision deemed against public
policy and unenforceable pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill).
5. Any person claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) may initiate suit in Superior Court. An action pursuant to this section shall be commenced within two years next after the cause of any such action shall have accrued. All remedies available in common law tort actions shall be available to prevailing plaintiffs. These remedies are in addition to any provided by P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) or any other statute. A prevailing plaintiff shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs.
6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all contracts and agreements entered into, renewed, modified, or amended on or after the effective date.
