Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009
Latest action · Apr 29, 2009 Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-81.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedJan 15, 2009
- Passed SenateNot reached
- Passed HouseNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 - Waives a state's sovereign immunity with respect to the enforcement of uniformed services members' employment or reemployment rights or benefits under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA).
Makes unenforceable agreements between an employer and employee requiring arbitration of disputes arising under USERRA. Provides exceptions. Requires the validity and enforceability of such an agreement to be determined by a court (as opposed to the arbitrator).
Provides increased liquidated damages, and authorizes punitive damages, against state or private employer violations of USERRA. Provides a right to a jury trial in such cases.
Requires (under current law, authorizes) the award of attorney fees in actions to enforce USERRA.
Defines "successor in interest" for USERRA purposes.
Prohibits wage discrimination against members covered under USERRA.
Requires (under current law, authorizes) a court to use equitable relief, including injunctions and restraining orders when appropriate, for USERRA violations.
Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to require federal procurement contracts to include a notice that the contractor may have USERRA obligations.
Requires a Comptroller General study on the effectiveness of federal education and outreach programs on employer obligations under USERRA.
Cosponsors 3
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Jan 15, 2009 to Apr 22, 2009, with 1 there on the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-MA | Edward M. Kennedy | Original | Jan 15, 2009 |
| D-OR | Ron Wyden | Mar 24, 2009 | |
| D-IL | Roland Burris | Apr 22, 2009 |
Actions 3
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Apr 29, 2009Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-81.
- Jan 15, 2009Introduced in Senate
- Jan 15, 2009Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 1474 | Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 | Identical bill | Apr 27, 2009 |
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security.
- Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Civil actions and liability
- Congressional oversight
- Employment discrimination and employee rights
- Government information and archives
- Government liability
- Public contracts and procurement
- State and local government operations
- Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
- Wages and earnings
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Jan 15, 2009Introduced in Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.