Current legal highlights.

Current Legal Highlights

SOURCE OF LAW        BILL/CASE        VENUE

Federal Legislation
Information          S. 751 and       Senate
security             S. 768
Passport fraud*      N/A              Senate
Cybersecurity        H.R. 285         House

Court Cases
Age discrimination   Smith v. City    U.S. Supreme
                     of Jackson       Court
Negligent hiring*    Browne v. SCR    Illinois Appeals
                     Medical Trans.   Court
Liability            State v. Thomas  Michigan trial
                     Wellinger        court

State Legislation
Nuclear facilities   Formerly S.B.    Arizona
                     1214             Legislature
Background           S.B. 621         Michigan
screening*                            Senate

SOURCE OF LAW        STATUS                   SIGNIFICANCE

Federal Legislation
Information          In Commerce, Science,    Held hearings to debate
security             and Trans. Committee     bills that would regulate
                                              information brokers.
Passport fraud*      Homeland Security and    Held hearings to discuss
                     Govt. Affairs Committee  issues of passport fraud,
                                              identity theft, and
                                              terrorism.
Cybersecurity        Approved by Homeland     Would establish a national
                     Security Subcommittee    response team to provide
                                              early warning of
                                              cybersecurity attacks.

Court Cases
Age discrimination   Decided for Smith        Intentional bias on part
                                              of employer not necessary
                                              to prove age
                                              discrimination.
Negligent hiring*    Decided for SCR          Company conducted adequate
                                              screening; not responsible
                                              for employee's acts.
Liability            Trial pending            Is employer liable if it
                                              knew that a worker who
                                              killed three people in a
                                              car accident was drunk?

State Legislation
Nuclear facilities   Signed into law by       Allows nuclear facility
                     governor                 security guards to use
                                              deadly force against
                                              intruders.
Background           Pending                  Requires that elder-care
screening*                                    facilities conduct annual
                                              background checks on all
                                              employees.

*More detailed information is in this issue of Legal Report.