Facebook bill advances without employer-backed amendment
A bill that would bar employers from asking employees for information about their accounts on social media sites like Facebook was released by a Senate committee today.
While employer groups back much of the bill, they were unsuccessful in convincing the committee to remove a provision allowing workers to sue employers for violations. The committee also passed a similar bill barring colleges from requiring students to provide their social media passwords.
The bill affecting employers was passed by the Senate Labor Committee by a 4-0 vote, with Sen. Anthony R. Bucco (R-Denville) abstaining Business groups said creating a new cause of action to bring lawsuits against employers would prove costly even in cases where the employer did nothing wrong. (Kitchenman, NJBIZ)