President Bush signed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) into Federal law on May 21, 2008. Congress had passed the related bill and submitted it to the President earlier in May.
The new genetic discrimination law makes it illegal for employers and health insurers to discriminate against employees on the basis of genetic predisposition to illness and disease.
The new law also makes it illegal for employers to retaliate against employees for reasonably exercising their rights under the law, as do all discrimination laws.
Additionally, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act amended the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to stiffen the penalties for employer violations of its child labor, overtime and minimum wage provisions. GINA also amended other laws.
For legal advice concerning the new genetic discrimination law, consult a lawyer.
