[blindlaw] GINA Notice of Proposed rule Making

[Michael Fry]

This is neat to know about.  The USDA has a site where it's possible to
submit comments via email and read all public comments submitted.  Here, it
looks like EEOC just had a meeting and will make the transcripts avaliable
online.  Am I missing something here?  It doesn't seem like public comment
if you've to go to the meeting to make your public comment.

On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 12:26 PM, Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR) <
Bennett.Prows at hhs.gov> wrote:

> Some on these lists might be interested in the notice of proposed rule
> making from the EEOC concerning the new Genetic Information
> Nondiscrimination Act.
>
>
>
> /s/
>
>
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> Bennett Prows
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> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~EEOC Seeks Public Comment
> on Proposed Regulations Implementing Genetic Information
> Nondiscrimination Act
>
>
>
> Commission Embarks on Historic New Area of Jurisdiction
>
>
>
>
>
> CONTACT: David Grinberg or Justine
>
> Lisser, (202) 663-4191
>
>
>
>
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> TTY: (202) 663-4494
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>
>
>
>
> WASHINGTON - Embarking on a historic new area of jurisdiction, the U.S.
> Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today presented a Notice
> of Proposed Rule Making implementing employment provisions of the
> Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), and urged
> public comment.
>
>
>
> "The addition of genetic information
>
> discrimination to the EEOC's mandate is
>
> historic, and represents the first
>
> legislative expansion of the EEOC's
>
> jurisdiction since the Americans with
>
> Disabilities Act passed in 1990," said Acting EEOC Chairman Stuart J.
> Ishimaru.  "We welcome the opportunity to implement important provisions
> of this landmark legislation, and to expand the promise of equal
> opportunity in the workplace for everyone."
>
>
>
> Acting EEOC Vice Chair Christine M. Griffin said, "GINA is an important
> piece of legislation.  As a deliberative body, we want to ensure that
> the intent of Congress is properly carried out through our regulations.
>
> Public comment on this NPRM is a critical part of that process.  We look
> forward to a vigorous and thoughtful review."
>
>
>
> GINA, signed into law in May 2008, prohibits discrimination by health
> insurers and employers based on people's genetic information.  The EEOC
> is charged with issuing regulations by May 21 implementing Title II of
> GINA, which prohibits the use of genetic information in employment,
> prohibits the intentional acquisition of genetic information about
> applicants and employees, and imposes strict confidentiality
> requirements.
>
>
>
> The EEOC opened a 60-day public comment
>
> period on the proposed rule-making at a
>
> Commission meeting today.  Also at the
>
> meeting, a panel of experts hailed GINA for allowing people to advance
> their health care without risking their jobs.
>
>
>
> "We know that in the past, patients have passed up genetic testing that
> could benefit their health, and have gone to great lengths to keep
> genetic information secret - even from their own doctors," said Susannah
> Baruch, law and policy director of the Pew-supported Genetics and Public
> Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University.  "With the passage of GINA
> and its implementation, we welcome a new era.  There are many factors an
> individual may consider in deciding whether to take a genetic test, but
> the fear of discrimination must not be one of them."
>
>
>
> Other panelists at today's meeting included:
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> *  Karen S. Elliott, attorney with Gregory Kaplan, PLC and member,
> Society for Human Resource Management
>
>
>
> *  Jeremy Gruber, president and executive Director, Council for
> Responsible Genetics
>
>
>
> *  Andrew J. Imparato, president and chief executive officer, American
> Association of People with Disabilities
>
>
>
> *  Rae T. Vann, general counsel, Equal
>
> Employment Advisory Council
>
>
>
> *  Christopher J. Kuczynski, assistant
>
> legal counsel, ADA Policy Division, EEOC
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>
>
>
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> The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting
>
> employment discrimination.   Further
>
> information about the EEOC is available on its Web site
> (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102476480387&e=001i3Pe907gVLp_Xxz4CRXPwfiLqnC
> lEJU11XQgXvIy5E-cOgmB6rff53cOQ60ODmDeWURiQ4lsePWZepEW2z6PYUFP3BEaexbhQQ-
> ao_3jDag=).
>
>
>
> <DIV ALIGN=CENTER># # #
>
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