HB 6187 Summary

• Prohibits employers from preventing employees from using their own personal protective equipment if it provides equal or greater protection than employer-provided equipment or exceeds state/federal standards.

• Prohibits employers from taking adverse employment actions (discipline, termination, demotion, reduced hours/wages, benefit reductions) or retaliating against employees for using personal PPE, advocating for additional PPE, or opposing violations of the act.

• Allows aggrieved employees to bring civil actions in circuit court for injunctive relief or damages, with courts required to award at least $5,000 to prevailing plaintiffs.

• Does not limit employers' existing obligations to provide PPE, fit testing, and training under state and federal occupational safety standards or workers' compensation law.

• Applies to public and private employers with one or more employees; does not apply to collective bargaining agreements in effect until they expire, are amended, extended, or renewed.