Site Map - Legislation

05/28/2008 - Lawmakers in the Wisconsin legislature are considering a bill (A.B. 260) that would make it legal to refuse to hire someone convicted of a sex crime regardless of whether the offense is related to the person’s job. Under existing state law, employers must show that a crime is substantially related to the job being sought before refusing to hire someone based on crimes uncovered in a background check.

05/28/2008 - A bill (H.R. 5552) introduced by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue reports to Congress on its efforts to improve homeland security by tightening U.S. borders.

05/28/2008 - A bill (H.R. 1424) designed to require insurance companies to provide more comprehensive mental health coverage, includes a provision that would make it illegal for insurance providers to discriminate based on genetic information. The bill has been approved by the House of Representatives. The Senate has agreed to consider the measure.

05/28/2008 - Rulings on discrimination, drug testing, and arbitration; plus legislation on border security, intellectual property, and identity theft.

04/30/2008 - A bill (H.B. 9) currently pending in the New Mexico Legislature would establish a task force to study the use of technology by stalkers. The findings would be used to develop new laws to combat the crime.

04/30/2008 - A bill (S.274) introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) that would expand protection for government whistleblowers has been approved by the Senate. The House of Representatives has not indicated whether it will consider the bill.

04/30/2008 - A bill (H.R. 660) that would increase courthouse security has been signed into law (P.L. 110-218). The law requires that the U.S. Marshals Service offer ongoing security advice to the judiciary. It authorizes additional funding to hire marshals to protect courthouses. In addition, the law makes it illegal to publicly disclose restricted personal information about a federal officer, witness, or juror with the intent to harm such individual. The law also makes it illegal to bring into the courtroom any item that could be used as a dangerous weapon.

04/30/2008 - The Senate Judiciary Committee recently held a hearing on the Bush administration’s use of the state secrets privilege. Under the privilege, the government can keep information from becoming public if it believes that the data will harm national security. Witnesses at the hearing discussed  the concept of privilege as well as a bill (S. 2533) introduced by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) that would require that the executive branch obtain court approval from a federal court each time it invokes the state secrets privilege in a civil action to prevent information from being released. Under the measure, the executive branch would also be required to provide a report to Congress on each item within 30 days of invoking the privilege.

04/29/2008 - Rulings on discrimination, retaliation, and mental health in the workplace; plus legislation on national security, courthouses, and whistleblowers.

03/28/2008 - Rulings on harrassment, emotional distress, and employee screening; plus legislation on airport security, gun control, and identity theft.

03/27/2008 - In response to the Virginia Tech shootings, the President has signed a bill (H.R. 2640) into law that would require all states to submit information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). According to statements by Rep. McCarthy, the law was necessary because not all states submit complete information. For example, not all states enter the records of those deemed mentally defective into the NCIS system. And for some states that do have complete information, the data is not automated, so it cannot be entered into the NCIS system.

03/14/2008 - A law passed by the Oklahoma State House yesterday allows people with training to carry concealed weapons on college campuses.

02/28/2008 - Rulings on negligence and vicarious liability; plus legislation on racial discrimination, domestic violence, and food safety.