Prohibiting discrimination against an employee who declines to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or to participate in any communication with the employer or with an agent, representative, or designee of the employer, the primary purpose of which is to communicate the opinion of the employer about religious or political matters

Under the bill, discrimination on that basis includes discharging or otherwise discriminating against an employee because the employee declines to attend such a meeting or to participate in such a communication or threatening to discharge or otherwise discriminate against an employee as a means of requiring the employee to attend such a meeting or participate in such a communication.

The bill provides, however, that it is not employment discrimination on that basis for an employer to refuse to hire or employ an individual, to suspend or terminate the employment of an individual, or to discriminate against an individual in promotion, in compensation, or in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because the individual declines to attend such a meeting or to participate in such a communication if any of the following applies:

1. The employer is a religious association not organized for private profit or an organization or corporation that is primarily owned or controlled by such a religious association and the primary purpose of the meeting or communication is to communicate the employer's religious beliefs, tenets, or practices.

2. The employer is a political organization, including a political party or any other organization that engages, in substantial part, in political activities, and the primary purpose of the meeting or communication is to communicate the employer's political tenets or purposes.

3. The primary purpose of the meeting or communication is to communicate information about religious matters or political matters that the employer is required by law to communicate and no information is communicated about those matters beyond what is legally required.

In addition, the bill does not limit any of the following:

1. The application of the law restricting political solicitation of public officers and employees while engaged in official duties or while on state property.

2. The right of an employer's executive, managerial, or administrative personnel to discuss issues relating to the operation of the employer's program, business, or enterprise, including issues arising under the bill.

3. The right of an employer to offer meetings or other communications about religious matters or political matters for which attendance or participation is strictly voluntary.

For purposes of the bill: 1) "religious matters" means religious affiliation or the decision to join or not to join, or to support or not to support, any bona fide religious association; 2) "political matters" means political party affiliation, a political campaign, an attempt to influence legislation, or the decision to join or not to join, or to support or not to support, any lawful political group, constituent group, or political or constituent group activity; and 3) "constituent group" includes a civic association, community group, social club, fraternal society, mutual benefit alliance, or labor organization.