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House passes advisory council and enforcement changes for anti-discrimination division
Summary
The House passed HB 78 creating an advisory council for the Anti-Discrimination Division and HB 96 with amendments clarifying enforcement and attorney-fee rules; debate centered on attorney-fee liability, fiscal impact and whether the state would be mandated to pursue enforcement actions.
The Utah House approved a pair of bills aimed at changing how workplace discrimination claims are handled: House Bill 78 establishes an advisory council to improve communication among employers, employees and protected classes, and House Bill 96 was amended on the floor to clarify enforcement language and attorney-fee procedures.
Sponsor Representative Frank R. Pignanelli said the advisory council is intended to provide "advice and counsel" to a highly charged part of state government and to reduce the number of discrimination claims that shift to federal court. He traced the bills to a governor-appointed task force and an industrial commission review.
"If we do not clean up the anti discrimination division, what will…
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