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Press Release 06-15-2009

COMMISSION TO MEET JUNE 17 TO CONSIDER ADA AMENDMENTS ACT REGULATIONS

     

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its next public meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at 10 a.m. (Eastern Time), at agency headquarters, 131 M St, NE, Washington, DC.  In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission's deliberations.

           

The following matters are scheduled for consideration during the open session of the meeting:

  • Announcement of Notation Votes
  • Proposed Rulemaking on the ADA Amendments Act of 2008

The Amendments Act, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2009, states that Congress expects the EEOC to revise its regulations to conform to changes made by the Act, and expressly authorizes the EEOC to do so.  The Act emphasizes that the definition of disability should be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA and generally shall not require extensive analysis.  The Act makes important changes to the definition of the term "disability" by rejecting the holdings in several Supreme Court decisions and portions of EEOC's ADA regulations. The effect of these changes is to make it easier for an individual seeking protection under the ADA to establish that he or she has a disability within the meaning of the ADA.

Any rules changes approved at Wednesday's meeting represent an initial stage in the regulatory process and must next go to the Office of Management and Budget for review, and to federal agencies pursuant to Executive Order 12067, without public comment.  The EEOC does not plan to release documents at Wednesday's meeting.

   

NOTE TO NEWS MEDIA: Any matter not discussed or concluded may be carried over to a later meeting.  The Commission agenda is subject to revision.  You may call (202) 663-7100 (voice) or (202) 663-4074 (TTY) on the day of the Commission Meeting to confirm the above schedule.

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.  Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.