House lawmakers OK legislation strengthening disability rights in Minnesota Human Rights Act

Rep. Kim Hicks (DFL-Rochester) wants to put more teeth in Minnesota Human Rights Act provisions that prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities.

To that end, she sponsors HF2380/SF3210* that would add language to the public policy statement of the act specifying that not engaging in a process to provide an accommodation could be classified as a discriminatory practice.

Via an 88-42 vote, the House passed HF2380/SF3210* Tuesday. The amended bill goes back to the Senate for concurrence.

A change Hicks said the disability community has been requesting for years, the bill specifies that the process must occur when people with disabilities seek “to participate fully in employment, housing and real property, public accommodations, public services, and education.”

“It’s making sure people with disabilities are able to have a conversation to make sure they can participate in our community,” she said.

Rep. Danny Nadeau (R-Rogers) successfully offered an amendment that the process must be to seek a “reasonable” accommodation.

Bill opposition focused on the possibility that the change would open the door to employers being sued because they could not accede to an accommodation request.

“This just seems like it’s opening me up for litigation,” said Rep. Jim Joy (R-Hawley), a business owner.

But another business owner predicted the changes would not be onerous.

“When we as employers do right by our employees, that comes to benefit us, and nobody sues us,” said Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton), an immigration attorney.