Introduced By: Senators Roberts, Roney and Izzo
Date Introduced : February 10, 1998
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 12-28-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-28 entitled "Victim's Rights" is hereby amended to read as follows:
12-28-11. Victims of domestic abuse -- Employment discrimination.
-- (1) No employer, employment agency or licensing agency
shall refuse to hire any applicant for employment, or discharge
an employee or discriminate against him or her with respect to
any matter related to employment, solely by reason of his or her
seeking or obtaining a protective order pursuant to chapter 15
of title 15 or chapter 8.1 of title 8 of the general laws {DEL . DEL}
{ADD or refusing to seek or obtain such an order. ADD}
(2) In any civil action alleging a violation of this chapter, the court may:
(a) Award to a prevailing applicant or employee actual damages, and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, and, where the challenged conduct is shown to be motivated by malice or ill will, punitive damages, provided, however, punitive damages shall not be available against the state or its political subdivisions; and
(b) Afford injunctive relief against any employer, employment agency or licensing agency who commits or proposes to commit a violation of this chapter.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
