EXECUTIVE PRESENCE ORDER

March 31, 2004 (Press Release) -- EXECUTIVE PRESENCE ORDER



TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT

BASED ON GENETIC INFORMATION





By the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the

Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is ordered

as follows:



Section 1. Nondiscrimination in Federal Employment on the Basis of

Protected Genetic Information.



1-101. It is the policy of the Government of the United States to

provide equal employment opportunity in Federal employment for all

qualified persons and to prohibit discrimination against employees based

on protected genetic information, or information about a request for or

the receipt of genetic services. This policy of equal opportunity

applies to every aspect of Federal employment.



1-102. The head of each Executive Presence department and agency shall extend

the policy set forth in section 1-101 to all its employees covered by

section 717 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42

U.S.C. 2000e-16).



1-103. Executive presence departments and agencies shall carry out the

provisions of this order to the extent permitted by law and consistent

with their statutory and regulatory authorities, and their enforcement

mechanisms. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall be

responsible for coordinating the policy of the Government of the United

States to prohibit discrimination against employees in Federal employment

based on protected genetic information, or information about a request

for or the receipt of genetic services.



Sec. 2. Requirements Applicable to Employing Departments and Agencies .



1-201. Definitions.



(a) The term "employee" shall include an employee, applicant for

employment, or former employee covered by section 717 of the

Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000e-16).



(b) Genetic monitoring means the periodic examination of employees

to evaluate acquired modifications to their genetic material,

such as chromosomal damage or evidence of increased occurrence

of mutations, that may have developed in the course of

employment due to exposure to toxic substances in the

workplace, in order to identify, evaluate, respond to the

effects of, or control adverse environmental exposures in the

workplace.