A State House committee began a hearing Tuesday into a stripped-down version of the workplace discrimination bill.
Governor Jay Nixon (D) vetoed the House version last month, so backers are now pushing a revised bill that will primarily focus on protecting whistleblowers. State Rep. Kevin Elmer(R, Nixa) says language that would redefine workplace discrimination as a motivating factor instead of a contributing one has been removed.
“I mean, we’re gonna continue to discuss ‘em, but obviously if you look at what the changes are that we’re doing, we’re kind of laying those aside for the time being," Elmer said.
Elmer sponsored the House version of the bill that the governor eventually vetoed.
Democrats on the Workforce Development and Workplace Safety Committee still expressed opposition to the bill, one calling it a “solution in search of a problem.” The hearing was suspended due to time constraints and is set to resume next week. The Governor’s office, meanwhile, has not yet commented on the revised measure.