By Chelyen Davis
RICHMOND--
The House of Delegates yesterday passed a bill that says employers can't be sued for firing employees for not speaking English.It also passed a bill to require large-scale dog breeders to be inspected by the state.
Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania, sponsored the bill regarding speaking English. His bill says that if an employer has a policy that requires employees to speak English on the job, then that employer can't be accused of discrimination on the basis of national origin.
While Cole doesn't know of any such problems in Virginia, he said the bill was inspired by a case in Massachusetts, where the Salvation Army was sued for firing workers who did not learn or speak English a year after being told to do so.
Cole's bill was amended Monday to clarify that it applies to companies that require employees to speak English for a legitimate business purpose.
"It's a great idea but it needs a little bit more clarification," said Del. Dave Albo, R-Fairfax, who put in the amendment. "The bill as it stands right now would be in conflict with federal law."
Del. Robert Hull, D-Fairfax, pointed out that Virginia's employment law is different from Massachusetts, and that employers here can already fire employees at will.
The bill passed on a 70-29 vote. All of the Fredericksburg-area delegates voted for it.
The House also passed Del. Bobby Orrock's bill to regulate dog breeders, a bill aimed at cracking down on "puppy mills" that churn out hundreds of dogs in unsanitary and inhumane conditions.
Many dog breeding and hunting groups opposed the bill, and Orrock did change his bill to raise the number of breeding dogs a person must have to be considered a breeder.
As it stands now under the bill, anyone who breeds more than 30 female dogs in one year, and sells the puppies, must get a local business license and submit to an inspection twice a year.
Legitimate dog breeders already must get federal licenses, but Orrock said the federal laws didn't allow local officials to inspect breeding operations.
He said his bill tries to draw a line between the large percentage of responsible dog breeders "versus those who are clearly in it for a quick return."
Orrock also noted it doesn't affect anyone who is breeding dogs for fun, or giving away puppies, only those who sell the puppies.
The bill passed on a 91-6 vote; Del. Ed Scott, R-Madison, was one of the no votes.
Chelyen Davis: 804/782-9362
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com