NONTHERAP. ABORT.; DELETE ELCRA EXEMPTION S.B. 147 (S-1):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 147 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Committee: Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to delete a provision specifying that the prohibition against an employer treating an individual affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition differently from another individual does not apply in the case of a nontherapeutic abortion not intended to save the life of the mother. In addition, the bill would prohibit an employer from treating differently an individual affected by the termination of a pregnancy.
The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 4. (Senate Bill 4, which would amend the ELCRA to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has been passed by the Senate and House and ordered enrolled.)
BRIEF RATIONALE
The passage of Proposal 22-3 codified an individual right to reproductive freedom in the Michigan Constitution, including the right to carry out all decisions about pregnancy and abortion. Some people believe that an employer should not be able to treat an individual affected by the termination of a pregnancy differently than another individual given the constitutional rights enshrined by Proposal 22-3. Accordingly, it has been suggested that the ELCRA be amended to prohibit an employer from doing so.
Legislative Analyst: Tyler P. VanHuyse
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 3-16-23 Fiscal Analyst: Cory Savino, PhD
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.