,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cfae  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,novemb] #ad1 #bjah    
,mrs4 ,murray 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,blum5?al1
 ,ms4 ,baldw91 ,mr4 ,book]1 ,mr4 ,br[n1 
,ms4 ,cortez ,ma/o1 ,mrs4 ,gillibr&1    
,ms4 ,h>ris1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,ms4 ,hirono1
 ,mr4 ,m>key1 ,mr4 ,m]kley1 ,mr4 ,re$1  
,mr4 ,s&]s1 ,mr4 ,s*atz1 ,ms4 ,w>r51    
,mr4 ,:iteh\se1 ,mr4 ,wyd51 & ,ms4      
,smi?7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions  
,a ,,bill  ,to prohibit =c$ arbitration 
9 employm5t disputes1 & = o!r purposes4 
#a4 ,%ort title  ,?is ,act may be cit$ z
 ! ,re/or+ ,ju/ice = ,work]s ,act4  #b4 
,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7    
,millions ( employees are curr5tly =c$  
to accept1 z a condition ( employm5t1   
contractual provisions t block _! access
 to ! c\rts or prohibit !m f jo9+ toge!r
 ) o!r employees to seek jo9t1 class1 or
 collective relief = violations ( _!    
rights4 ,?is has l$ to widespread       

non5=cem5t ( employees' rights & has    
p]mitt$ significant violations ( ^?     
rights to cont9ue unabat$4  7#b7 ,mo/   
employees h little or no mean+ful *oice 
reg>d+ :e!r to accept ^! provisions4    
,(t51 employees are n ev5 aw>e t !y h   
giv5 up ! "r to seek rec\rse 9 c\rt or h
 waiv$ _! "r to jo9 o!r employees 9     
jo9t1 class1 or collective actions4     
7#c7 ,! ,f$]al ,arbitration ,act 7n[    
enact$ z *apt] #a ( title #i1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code7 0 int5d$ to apply to      
disputes betwe5 comm]cial entities (    
g5]ally simil> sophi/ication & b>ga9+   
p[]4 ,despite ?is congressional int5t1 !
 ,supreme ,c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates has   
int]pret$ ! ,f$]al ,arbitration ,act s t
 x n[ ext5ds to employm5t disputes4     
7#d7 ,! ,national ,labor ,relations ,act
 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #aea et seq47 protects  
employees' "r to engage 9 conc]t$       
activities = ! purpose ( mutual aid or  
protection4 ,?is 0 int5d$ & long        
und]/ood to encompass employees' "r to  
collectively seek relief = violations ( 

_! workplace rights4 ,h[ev]1 contr>y to 
! pla9 text ( ! law & congressional     
int5t1 ! ,supreme ,c\rt ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates1 9 ,epic ,sy/ems ,corp4 v4       
,lewis1 #ach ,s4 ,ct4 #afab 7#bjah71    
decid$ t employees may be =c$1 z a      
condition ( employm5t1 to waive _! "r to
 collectively litigate employm5t        
actions4  7#e7 ,=c$ individual dispute  
resolution und]m9es employees' rights & 
exac]bates ! inequality ( b>ga9+ p[]    
betwe5 employees & employ]s because jo9+
 a jo9t1 class1 or collective action is 
(t5 ! only way employees c af=d to seek 
relief = violations ( _! rights4  7#f7  
,employees :o are =c$ to submit to      
individual dispute resolution (t5 seek  
no r$ress at all due to well-f\nd$ fe> (
 retaliation4  7#g7 ,protect+ ! rights (
 employees to individually or conc]t$ly 
seek relief = violations ( _! labor     
rights ?r\gh ! ju/ice sy/em protects !  
public int]e/ & safegu>ds comm]ce f     
injury4  #c4 ,purposes ,! purposes ( ?is
 ,act are to-- 7#a7 prohibit pr$ispute  

arbitration agreem5ts t require         
arbitration ( employm5t disputes2  7#b7 
prohibit retaliation aga9/ employees =  
refus+ to arbitrate employm5t disputes2 
7#c7 provide protections to ensure t    
po/dispute arbitration agreem5ts are    
truly volunt>y & ) ! in=m$ cons5t (     
employees2 &  7#d7 am5d ! ,national     
,labor ,relations ,act to prohibit      
agreem5ts & practices t int]f]e )       
employees' "r to collectively litigate  
employm5t disputes4  #d4 ,protection (  
conc]t$ activity ,section #h7;a7 ( !    
,national ,labor ,relations ,act 7#bi   
,u4,s4,c4 #aeh7;a77 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9   
p>agraph 7#e71 by /rik+ ! p]iod at ! end
 & ins]t+ 2 &2 &  7#b7 by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+3  7#f7 7,a7 to ent] into or    
attempt to en=ce any agreem5t1 express  
or impli$1 :]eby prior to a dispute to  
:i* ! agreem5t applies1 an employee     
und]takes or promises n to pursue1 br+1 
jo91 litigate1 or support any k9d (     
jo9t1 class1 or collective legal action 
aris+ f or relat+ to ! employm5t ( su*  

employee 9 any =um t1 b = su* agreem5t1 
is ( compet5t jurisdiction2 or  7,b7 to 
retaliate or ?reat5 to retaliate aga9/  
an employee = refus+ to und]take or     
promise n to pursue1 br+1 jo91 litigate1
 or support any k9d ( jo9t1 class1 or   
collective legal action aris+ f or      
relat+ to ! employm5t ( su* employee3   
,provid$1 ,t any agreem5t t violates ?is
 p>agraph or results f a violation ( ?is
 p>agraph %all be to su* ext5t          
un5=ceable & void3 ,provid$ fur!r1 ,t   
?is p>agraph %all n apply to any        
agreem5t embodi$ 9 or expressly p]mitt$ 
by a contract betwe5 an employ] & a     
labor organization4  4  #e4 ,arbitration
 ( employm5t disputes  7a7 ,9 g5]al     
,title #i ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,code is    
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #d    
,arbitration ( employm5t disputes  ,sec4
 #dja4 ,def9itions4 #djb4 ,validity &   
en=ceability4  #dja4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is 
*apt]--  7#a7 ! t]ms comm]ce1 employee1 
& employ] h ! mean+s giv5 ! t]ms 9      
section #c ( ! ,fair ,labor ,/&>ds ,act 

( #aich 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bjc72  7#b7 !   
t]m employm5t dispute means a dispute   
betwe5 an employ] & an employee aris+ f 
or relat+ to ! employm5t ( ! employee1 &
 includes disputes t arise "u common law
 or f ! alleg$ violation ( !            
,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 !       
con/itution ( a ,/ate1 or a ,f$]al1     
,/ate1 t]ritorial1 c\nty1 or municipal  
/atute2  7#c7 ! t]m pr$ispute           
arbitration agreem5t means any agreem5t 
to arbitrate a dispute t _h n yet aris5 
at ! "t ( ! mak+ ( ! agreem5t2 &  7#d7 !
 t]m po/dispute arbitration agreem5t    
means any agreem5t to arbitrate a       
dispute t arose be=e ! "t ( ! mak+ ( !  
agreem5t4  #djb4 ,validity &            
en=ceability  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,not)/&+ any 
o!r *apt] ( ?is title-- 7#a7 no         
pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t %all be  
valid or en=ceable if x requires        
arbitration ( an employm5t dispute2     
7#b7 no po/dispute arbitration agreem5t 
t requires arbitration ( an employm5t   
dispute %all be valid or en=ceable      

unless--  7,a7 ! agreem5t 0 n requir$ by
 ! employ]1 obta9$ by co]cion or ?reat (
 adv]se action1 or made a condition (   
employm5t or any employm5t-relat$       
privilege or b5efit2  7,b7 ea* employee 
ent]+ into ! agreem5t 0 in=m$ 9 writ+   
us+ suffici5tly pla9 language likely to 
be und]/ood by ! av]age employee (--    
7i7 ! "r ( ! employee "u p>agraph 7#c7  
to refuse to ent] ! agreem5t )\t        
retaliation2 &  7ii7 ! protections "u   
section #h7;a77#f7 ( ! ,national ,labor 
,relations ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4          
#aeh7;a77#f772  7,c7 ea* employee ent]+ 
into ! agreem5t ent]$ ! agreem5t aft] a 
wait+ p]iod ( n few] ?an #de days1      
beg9n+ on ! date on :i* ! employee 0    
provid$ bo? ! f9al text ( ! agreem5t & !
 disclosures requir$ "u subp>agraph     
7,b72 &  7,d7 ea* employee ent]+ into ! 
agreem5t affirmatively cons5t$ to !     
agreem5t 9 writ+2 &  7#c7 no employ] may
 retaliate or ?reat5 to retaliate aga9/ 
an employee = refus+ to ent] into an    
agreem5t t provides = arbitration ( an  

employm5t dispute4  7b7 ,/atute (       
limitations ,dur+ ! wait+ p]iod describ$
 9 subsection 7a77#b77;,c71 ! /atute (  
limitations = any claims t arise f or =m
 ! basis = ! applicable employm5t       
dispute %all be toll$4  7c7 ,civil      
action ,any p]son :o is injur$ by reason
 ( a violation ( subsection 7a77#c7 may 
br+ a civil action 9 ! appropriate      
di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates aga9/ !  
employ] )9 #b ye>s ( ! violation1 or )9 
#c ye>s if su* violation is willful4    
,relief grant$ 9 su* an action %all     
include a reasonable attorney's fee1 o!r
 reasonable co/s associat$ ) ma9ta9+ !  
action1 & any appropriate relief        
au?oriz$ by section #gjf7;g7 ( ! ,civil 
,rights ,act ( #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#bjjj;e-#e7;g77 or by section           
#aigg;,a7b7 ( ! ,revis$ ,/atutes 7#db   
,u4,s4,c4 #aiha;a7b774  7d7             
,applicability  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,?is *apt]
 applies to employ]s & employees engag$ 
9 activity affect+ comm]ce to ! fulle/  
ext5t p]mitt$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates        

,con/itution4 ,an issue z to :e!r ?is   
*apt] applies to an arbitration agreem5t
 %all be det]m9$ "u ,f$]al law4 ,!      
applicability ( ?is *apt] to an agreem5t
 to arbitrate & ! validity &            
en=ceability ( an agreem5t to :i* ?is   
*apt] applies %all be det]m9$ by a c\rt1
 r ?an an arbitrator1 reg>dless ( :e!r  
any contractual provision delegates su* 
matt]s to ! arbitrator & irrespective ( 
:e!r ! p>ty resi/+ arbitration *all5ges 
! arbitration agreem5t specifically or 9
 conjunction ) o!r t]ms ( ! contract    
conta9+ su* agreem5t4  7#b7 ,collective 
b>ga9+ agreem5ts ,no?+ 9 ?is *apt] %all 
apply to any arbitration provision 9 a  
contract betwe5 an employ] & a labor    
organization1 except t no su*           
arbitration provision %all h ! effect ( 
waiv+ ! "r ( an employee to seek        
judicial en=cem5t ( a "r aris+ "u a     
provision ( ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates1 ! con/itution ( a ,/ate1 or a   
,f$]al or ,/ate /atute1 or public policy
 aris+ !refrom4  4  7b7 ,te*nical &     

con=m+ am5dm5ts  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,title #i
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,code is am5d$-- 7,a7
 9 section #a1 by /rik+ ( seam51 & all t
 foll[s ?r\gh int]/ate comm]ce2  7,b7 9 
section #b1 by ins]t+ or z o!rwise      
provid$ 9 *apt] #d be=e ! p]iod at !    
end2  7,c7 9 section #bjh--  7i7 9 !    
section head+1 by /rik+ ,*apt] #a2      
residual application & ins]t+           
,application2 &  7ii7 by add+ at ! end !
 foll[+3 ,?is *apt] applies to ! ext5t t
 ?is *apt] is n 9 conflict ) *apt] #d42 
&  7,d7 9 section #cjg-- 7i7 9 ! section
 head+1 by /rik+ ,*apt] #a2 residual    
application & ins]t+ ,application2 &    
7ii7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 ,?is    
*apt] applies to ! ext5t t ?is *apt] is 
n 9 conflict ) *apt] #d44  7#b7 ,table (
 sections  7,a7 ,*apt] #b ,! table (    
sections = *apt] #b ( title #i1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by /rik+ ! item  
relat+ to section #bjh & ins]t+ !       
foll[+3  #bjh4 ,application4  4  7,b7   
,*apt] #c ,! table ( sections = *apt] #c
 ( title #i1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is    

am5d$ by /rik+ ! item relat+ to section 
#cjg & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  #cjg4          
,application4  4  7#c7 ,table ( *apt]s  
,! table ( *apt]s = title #i1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+3  #d4;,arbitration ( employm5t 
disputes#dja4  4  #f4 ,effective date   
,?is ,act1 & ! am5dm5ts made by ?is     
,act1 %all take effect on ! date (      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act & %all apply )      
respect to any dispute or claim t arises
 on or aft] su* date1 includ+ any       
dispute or claim to :i* an agreem5t     
pr$at+ su* date applies4