Hands-off-my-Facebook bill gets initial OK in Legislature

Colorado state Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver.

Employers would no longer be able to require that workers give them access to privacy-protected social media sites under a bill that received unanimous approval from its first Colorado legislative committee Tuesday.

House Bill 1046, sponsored by Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver, would put Colorado in line with six other states that have declared it unlawful for companies to demand worker passwords for sites like Facebook.

Another 21 states are considering similar laws this year, Williams said.

Employees who allege companies have violated the law could file a complaint with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, which would investigate and could fine employers $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for each subsequent violation.

Williams backed an amendment to the bill Tuesday by Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, that barred aggrieved workers from suing their employers over such violations.

Officials from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Colorado Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Association told the House Business, Labor, Economic and Workforce Development Committee that they hear an increasing amount of complaints about employers seeking passwords and access to workers? private sites.

They, along with Williams, said the bill is meant to ensure employees can not be punished for legal activities they undertake in their off time and want to share on Internet sites with friends.

?As we are on a technology highway, ... I think it is responsible of us to continue to protect the personal privacy of Coloradans,? Williams said.

The bill specifically exempts two groups of employers from the proposed law ? law-enforcement agencies and corrections agencies.

Ed Sealover covers government, health care, tourism, airlines and hospitality for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Capitol Business" blog. Phone: 303-803-9229.

Source: http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_national/~3/vlv2DQWdgZI/hands-off-my-facebook-bill-gets.html

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