HB 45 Summary - Florida Competitive Workforce Act

• Creates the "Florida Competitive Workforce Act" adding sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as protected classes from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and public lodging establishments.

• Defines "gender identity or expression" as gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior regardless of differences from physiology or assigned sex at birth, demonstrable through medical history, consistent assertion, or evidence that it is a sincerely held core identity.

• Defines "sexual orientation" as an individual's actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.

• Prohibits discrimination based on actual or perceived protected characteristics in employment decisions, housing transactions, financing, land use decisions, public accommodations, and club memberships with more than 400 members.

• Provides religious exemptions allowing religious corporations, associations, educational institutions, and societies to condition employment and public accommodations opportunities based on religion, and exempts free exercise of religion guaranteed by state and federal constitutions.

• Takes effect July 1, 2016.