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New bill would let companies force workers to get genetic tests, share results
ARS Technica ^ | 3/10/2017 | BETH MOLE

Posted on 03/10/2017 10:00:17 AM PST by tekrat

It’s hard to imagine a more sensitive type of personal information than your own genetic blueprints. With varying degrees of accuracy, the four-base code can reveal bits of your family’s past, explain some of your current traits and health, and may provide a glimpse into your future with possible conditions and health problems you could face. And that information doesn’t just apply to you but potentially your blood relatives, too.

Most people would likely want to keep the results of genetic tests highly guarded—if they want their genetic code deciphered at all. But, as STAT reports, a new bill that is quietly moving through the House would allow companies to strong-arm their employees into taking genetic tests and then sharing that data with unregulated third parties as well as the employer. Employees that resist could face penalties of thousands of dollars.

(Excerpt) Read more at arstechnica.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: employees; employers; ethics; genetictesting; genetictests; healthinsurance; privacy
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1 posted on 03/10/2017 10:00:18 AM PST by tekrat
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To: tekrat

bkmk


2 posted on 03/10/2017 10:03:52 AM PST by Faith65 (Isaiah 40:31)
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To: tekrat

That no man, rich or poor, free or bond shall be able to work, save he that hath his DNA on file...


3 posted on 03/10/2017 10:04:03 AM PST by null and void (Drain the swamp! Get rid of the mosque-itoes!)
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To: tekrat

For the purpose of discrimination in employment and insurance?


4 posted on 03/10/2017 10:06:36 AM PST by a fool in paradise (patriots win, Communists and Socialist Just-Us Warriors lose)
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To: tekrat

Am I missing the problem here? Where is the “companies force workers to get genetic tests, share results” happening?

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1313/text

(b) Collection of information.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the collection of information about the manifested disease or disorder of a family member shall not be considered an unlawful acquisition of genetic information with respect to another family member as part of a workplace wellness program described in paragraph (1) or (2) offered by an employer (or in conjunction with an employer-sponsored health plan described in section 2705(j) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–4(j))) and shall not violate title I or title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–233). For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “family member” has the meaning given such term in section 201 of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (Public Law 110–233).


5 posted on 03/10/2017 10:07:52 AM PST by VitacoreVision
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To: tekrat
"Employees that resist could face penalties of thousands of dollars."

After court trials and repeated appeals, they may find the law difficult to enforce.
6 posted on 03/10/2017 10:07:54 AM PST by Telepathic Intruder
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To: tekrat

This bill is “quietly moving through the House”, eh?

You mean all those Republicans we put in there to support our President and make us the land of the free; the home of the brave again?

Everyone who trusted the GOP and/or hung their hopes on the Republicans ‘saving’ us, just got played. Again.

Charlie Brown - Lucy - football.


7 posted on 03/10/2017 10:09:22 AM PST by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: MichaelCorleone

Please show me the bad parts of the bill.


8 posted on 03/10/2017 10:10:17 AM PST by VitacoreVision
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To: VitacoreVision

It may depend on the meaning of the word “manifested”.


9 posted on 03/10/2017 10:10:30 AM PST by mewzilla (I'll vote for the first guy who promises to mail in his SOTU addresses.)
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To: tekrat

What did Comey say?

“there is no longer “absolute privacy” in the U.S....”

So how will the get into my mind?

Waterboard?, or worse?

I suspect so.


10 posted on 03/10/2017 10:12:14 AM PST by Scrambler Bob (Brought to you from Turtle Island, otherwise known as 'So-Called North America')
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To: VitacoreVision

And how do they mean to go about getting said info? Boy, this is a scary piece of legislation...


11 posted on 03/10/2017 10:12:32 AM PST by mewzilla (I'll vote for the first guy who promises to mail in his SOTU addresses.)
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To: mewzilla

And then there’s the mental health aspect. Are they talking about mental heakrh issues as well as physical?


12 posted on 03/10/2017 10:13:55 AM PST by mewzilla (I'll vote for the first guy who promises to mail in his SOTU addresses.)
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To: tekrat

Nope! My genes are mine, thank you very much.


13 posted on 03/10/2017 10:14:03 AM PST by ItsOnlyDaryl
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To: mewzilla

The article is freaking about about this violating the “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act” No, the bill stays within the Act. (See below)

“....and shall not violate title I or title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–233).”


14 posted on 03/10/2017 10:14:18 AM PST by VitacoreVision
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To: tekrat

Not just no, but hell no.


15 posted on 03/10/2017 10:14:59 AM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents - Know Islam, No Peace -No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: mewzilla

Did you read the legislation?

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1313/text


16 posted on 03/10/2017 10:15:39 AM PST by VitacoreVision
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To: MichaelCorleone
Everyone who trusted the GOP....just got played. Again

They just can't help themselves. Yesterday's scandal about the "reform" was cash presents for insurance company execs. Add to that, whenever we specifically ask we hear "don't worry, no mandates" but they've been real quiet about that.

Perhaps it's a Catch 22. With a small handful exceptions in the HOR, nobody gets to DC unless they're bought and paid for.

17 posted on 03/10/2017 10:16:02 AM PST by grania
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To: tekrat

The “Death Panels” need more data to work with.


18 posted on 03/10/2017 10:17:52 AM PST by G Larry (There is no great virtue in bargaining with the Devil)
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To: VitacoreVision

See post #18


19 posted on 03/10/2017 10:18:42 AM PST by G Larry (There is no great virtue in bargaining with the Devil)
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To: VitacoreVision
Damn right I did. And this is the scary bit...

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the collection of information about the manifested disease or disorder of a family member shall not be considered an unlawful acquisition of genetic information with respect to another family member as part of a workplace wellness program described in paragraph (1) or (2) offered by an employer (or in conjunction with an employer-sponsored health plan described in section 2705(j) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–4(j))) and shall not violate title I or title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–233). For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “family member” has the meaning given such term in section 201 of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (Public Law 110–233).

No room for abuse there, eh?

SNORT.

20 posted on 03/10/2017 10:19:25 AM PST by mewzilla (I'll vote for the first guy who promises to mail in his SOTU addresses.)
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