EEOC TO HOLD FEB. 25 MEETING ON GENETIC BIAS

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
PRESS RELEASE
2-23-09

Agency to Invite Comment on Draft Rule Implementing Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold a public meeting on the subject of genetic discrimination at 10 a.m. (Eastern Time) Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the agency’s new headquarters, 131 M Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission’s deliberations.
At the meeting, the Commission is scheduled to present its Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) implementing Title II (employment provisions) of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). Congress enacted Title II of GINA to protect people from employment discrimination based on their genetic information. Title II of GINA requires the EEOC to issue implementing regulations by May of this year.
The Commission is scheduled to hear from the following invited panelists about the new law and the impact of genetic discrimination in the workplace:
Susannah A. Baruch, Law and Policy Director, Genetics and Public Policy Center
Karen S. Elliott, attorney with Gregory Kaplan, PLC and member, Society for Human Resource Management
Jeremy Gruber, President and Executive Director, Council for Responsible Genetics
Andrew J. Imparato, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Association of People with Disabilities
Rae T. Vann, General Counsel, Equal Employment Advisory Council
Any matter not discussed or concluded may be carried over to a later meeting. The Commission agenda is subject to revision. You may call (202) 663-7100 (voice) or (202) 663-4074 (TTY) on the day of the Commission Meeting to confirm the above schedule.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.