[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 540 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 540

 To amend title 9, United States Code, to allow employees the right to 
   accept or reject the use of arbitration to resolve an employment 
                              controversy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 5, 2003

 Mr. Andrews introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 9, United States Code, to allow employees the right to 
   accept or reject the use of arbitration to resolve an employment 
                              controversy.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ARBITRATION CHOICE.

    (a) Definition.--Section 1 of chapter 1 of title 9, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``nation, but nothing herein'' and all 
that follows through the end and inserting ``nation.''.
    (b) Arbitration Choice.--Chapter 1 of title 9, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 17. Resolution of controversy
    ``(a) Notwithstanding an employment contract that provides for the 
use of arbitration to resolve a controversy arising out of or relating 
to the employment relationship, arbitration may be used to settle such 
a dispute only if--
            ``(1) the employer or employee submits a written request 
        after the dispute arises to the other party to use arbitration; 
        and
            ``(2) the other party consents in writing not later than 60 
        days after the receipt of the request to use arbitration.
    ``(b) An employer subject to this Act may not require an employee 
to arbitrate a dispute as a condition of employment.''.

SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by section 1 shall apply to contracts entered 
into, amended, altered, modified, renewed, or extended after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.
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