Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to create a system that prioritizes the redeployment of employees who become disabled and are unable to perform essential tasks of their current jobs, by placing them in other available positions for which they are qualified.

Main Provisions

• Priority Placement Requirement: Employers must offer priority placement to disabled employees for other open positions. This means these employees should be considered before any external candidates, provided the employee meets the qualifications for the new position.
• Employee Eligibility: The affected employee must be qualified for the new position and able to perform it with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Scope of Application: This requirement applies to employers with more than 40,000 employees in Minnesota.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 363A.08, by adding a subdivision specifically addressing the priority placement of disabled employees who cannot be accommodated in their current roles.
• Establishes a formal process and obligation for large employers to notify their employees about their rights to priority placement.

Relevant Terms

• Priority placement
• Reasonable accommodation
• Disabled employees
• Employment law
• Large employers