New Law Prohibits Employers from Considering Genetic Information in Making Employment Decisions

On May 21, 2008, President Bush signed into law the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), prohibiting employers from using genetic information for decisions on hiring, firing, promotions, or job assignments, and group health plans and health insurers from basing eligibility or premium determinations on genetic information.

Introduced by Representative Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY) and hailed by legislators and patient rights advocates as “the first major new civil rights bill of the new century,” this legislation has had broad political support in its 13-year struggle through Congress but, until now, has never managed to pass both houses in the same session.

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