HB3062 - Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act

• Creates a new Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act requiring employers to provide discharged employees with written reasons for termination upon demand, with penalties for failure to comply.

• Prohibits employers from preventing or blacklisting discharged employees from obtaining other employment, though employers may provide truthful statements of discharge reasons to prospective employers (only if written statement was first given to discharged employee).

• Defines wrongful discharge to include constructive discharge, discharge without good cause after probationary period (90 days maximum), discharge in retaliation for refusing to violate public policy, or violations of written personnel policies.

• Allows discharged employees to sue for reinstatement with seniority, lost wages with interest and fringe benefits, litigation costs, expert fees, and attorney's fees, with actions limited to one year after discharge.

• Makes violations of the Act a Class A misdemeanor and requires employers to maintain written internal appeal procedures with notification within 7 days of discharge; employees must exhaust internal procedures before filing suit (procedures must complete within 90 days).