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2020 SESSION
20105006DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 2.2-3903 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 2.2-3903. Causes of action not created.
A. As used in this section:
"Lactation" means a condition that may result in the feeding of a child directly from the breast or the expressing of milk from the breast.
"Unlawful discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions" includes discrimination against a person because such person may become pregnant or has been pregnant.
B. Nothing
in this chapter or in Article 4 (§ 2.2-520 et seq.) of Chapter 5 creates, nor
shall it be construed to create, an independent or private cause of action to
enforce its provisions, except as specifically provided in subsections B C
and C D.
B. C. No employer employing more
than five but less fewer
than 15 persons shall discharge any such employee on the basis of race, color,
religion, national origin, or
sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical
conditions, including lactation. No employer employing more
than five but less fewer
than 20 persons shall discharge any such employee on the basis of age if the
employee is 40 years of age or older. For the purposes of
this section, "lactation" means a condition that may result in the
feeding of a child directly from the breast or the expressing of milk from the
breast.
No employer employing more than five but fewer than 15 persons shall unlawfully discriminate against or discharge any such person on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including lactation.
C. D. The employee may bring an
action in a general district or circuit court having jurisdiction over the
employer who allegedly unlawfully discriminated
against or discharged the employee in violation of this
section. Any such action shall be brought within 300 days from the date of the unlawful discrimination against or
discharge or, if the employee has filed a complaint with the Division of Human
Rights of the Department of Law or a local human rights or human relations
agency or commission within 300 days of the
unlawful discrimination or discharge, such action shall be
brought within 90 days from the date that the Division or a local human rights
or human relations agency or commission has rendered a final disposition on the
complaint.
The For actions against an employer who allegedly
discharged an employee in violation of this section, the court
may award up to 12 months' back pay with interest at the judgment rate as
provided in § 6.2-302. However, if the court finds that either party engaged in
tactics to delay resolution of the complaint, it may (i) diminish the award or
(ii) award back pay to the date of judgment without regard to the 12-month
limitation. In any case where the employee prevails, the court shall award
attorney fees from the amount recovered, not to exceed 25 percent of the back
pay awarded. The court shall not award other damages, compensatory or punitive,
nor shall it order reinstatement of the employee.
For actions against an employer who allegedly unlawfully discriminated against an employee on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including lactation, the court may award compensatory or punitive damages. In any case where the employee prevails, the court shall award attorney fees from the amount recovered, not to exceed 25 percent of the amount awarded.
D. E. Causes of action based upon
the public policies reflected in this chapter shall be exclusively limited to
those actions, procedures, and remedies, if any, afforded by applicable federal
or state civil rights statutes or local ordinances. Nothing in this section or
§ 2.2-3900 shall be deemed to alter, supersede, or otherwise modify the authority
of the Division or of any local human rights or human relations commissions
established pursuant to § 15.2-853 or 15.2-965.