News

GINA Signed Into Law after 13 Years

After a 13-year struggle through Congress the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA) was finally signed into federal law by President Bush on May 21, 2008. GINA prohibits any discrimination based on an employee’s genetic information, including the genetic tests of an employee and their family members, as well as the manifestation of a disease or disorder in an employee’s family. Remedies for GINA violations include hiring/promoting an applicant, reinstatement of a terminated employee and payment of back/front pay and attorney’s fees.
          Kansas employees have benefited from the protection of their genetic information for several years due to the Kansas Act Against Discrimination. This act prohibits an employer’s use of and applicant or employee’s genetic information when making any employment decisions.

To read the new law, please use the link below:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c110:6:./temp/~c1103Y5kLw:e78967