HB 625 Summary

• Adds pregnancy as a protected class under Florida's civil rights laws, prohibiting discrimination based on pregnancy in employment, public accommodations, public lodging, and food service establishments.

• Expands the Florida Commission on Human Relations' mandate to promote fair treatment and equal opportunity regardless of pregnancy status.

• Establishes civil and administrative remedies for pregnancy discrimination violations, allowing aggrieved persons to file complaints with the commission within 365 days of the alleged violation.

• Prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy by employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, occupational licensing entities, and training programs.

• Creates a bona fide occupational qualification exception allowing pregnancy-based employment decisions only when pregnancy status is reasonably necessary for job performance.

• Takes effect July 1, 2015.