Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §4552, as amended by PL 1993, c. 327, §1, is further amended to read:

§4552. Policy

To protect the public health, safety and welfare, it is declared to be the policy of this State to keep continually in review all practices infringing on the basic human right to a life with dignity, and the causes of these practices, so that corrective measures may, where possible, be promptly recommended and implemented, and to prevent discrimination in employment, except on account of a reasonable concern related to an occupational qualification or because of the previous assertion of a claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 39-A; in housing or, except on account of a reasonable concern about potential damage to the property or nonpayment of rent; in access to public accommodations on account of race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin; and in employment, discrimination on account of age or because of the previous assertion of a claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 39-A and in housing because of familial status; and to prevent discrimination, except on account of a reasonable concern related to health, safety or payment for the goods or services rendered; in the extension of credit, except on account of age, race, color, sex, marital status, religion, ancestry or national origin; and to prevent discrimination a reasonable concern related to repayment; and in education on account of sex or physical or mental disability for any reason.

Sec. 2. Implementing legislation. The Maine Human Rights Commission shall submit a bill conforming other statutes to this Act to the 120th Legislature no later than November 1, 2001.

SUMMARY

The purpose of this bill is to repeal references to protected classes in portions of the Maine Human Rights Act and replace them with a general prohibition against discrimination in the areas specified in current law subject to certain exceptions. This bill directs the Maine Human Rights Commission to submit a bill to the 120th Legislature conforming other statutes to this act.