This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The House gave final passage Wednesday to a bill that puts some extra teeth into laws banning retaliation against workers who file complaints against their employers.
It voted 72-0 to pass SB33 by Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City. It outlines a new process of what must happen when the Utah Division of Occupational Safety and Health finds that retaliation has occurred.
House Majority Leader Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, the House sponsor of the bill, said the division up to now could issue a finding of discrimination, but allow it to sit without action.
The bill now requires an order for retaliation to cease, plus an order for appropriate relief, such as reinstatement in a job or providing back pay. It also allows an employer to challenge those orders in court.
The bill now goes to Gov. Gary Herbert for his signature.
— Lee Davidson