HB 915 -- SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY

CO-SPONSORS:  Graham, Riback Wilson (25), Portwood, Hosmer, Ladd
Baker, Smith, Carnahan, Coleman

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Civil and
Administrative Law by a vote of 14 to 1.

This bill allows the state of Missouri to be subject to lawsuits
for monetary damages in Missouri state courts for violations of
the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that because the federal courts have
found that government employees have no right to sue government
employers under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the bill
would merely give governmental employees the same rights as
everyone else.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Graham; Office of
the Attorney General; American Council of State and Municipal
Employees; Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys; Center for
Independent Living; Paraquad; Missouri Commission for the Deaf;
Governor's Council on Disability; and Service Employees
International Union.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Richard Smreker, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:46 am