home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- August 1991
-
-
- THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
-
- By
-
- Jeffrey Higginbotham J.D.
- Special Agent
- Legal Instructor
- FBI Academy
- Quantico, Virginia
-
-
- On July 26, 1990, President Bush signed the Americans With
- Disabilities Act (ADA), which poses new challenges for law
- enforcement administrators. The ADA, which was enacted to
- eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities,
- provides protection against employment discrimination to
- individuals who are disabled but nonetheless able to work. (1)
- Though the ADA is not yet in effect, it will become effective
- for employers with at least 25 employees on July 26, 1992, and
- for employers with at least 15 employees on July 26, 1994. (2)
- Therefore, law enforcement administrators should begin planning
- now to ensure compliance with the act when it does become
- effective.
-
- The purpose of this article is to discuss the requirements
- of the ADA. The article also brings to the attention of
- administrators certain problem areas involving important policy
- decisions that should be considered before the effective date of
- the act. (3)
-
- PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION
-
- The ADA prohibits employers from discriminating "...against
- a qualified individual with a disability because of the
- disability of such individual in regard to job application
- procedures, the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees,
- employee compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions
- and privileges of employment." (4) The ADA also prohibits an
- employer from conducting a medical examination or making
- inquiries of a job applicant concerning the nature or severity
- of a disability, unless a conditional offer of employment has
- been made. (5)
-
- However, these general prohibitions of discrimination
- against the disabled have two important thresholds that must be
- met before a particular person is protected by the ADA. First,
- an applicant or employee must be disabled under the terms of the
- act. Second, in addition to that disability, the person must be
- qualified to perform the job, with or without reasonable
- accommodation by the employer. More importantly, the ADA does
- not automatically require that disabled persons be hired;
- rather, it demands equal employment opportunities, but only if
- those persons are capable of performing the essential functions
- of the job.
-
- WHAT CONSTITUTES A DISABILITY UNDER THE ADA?
-
- A person is defined by the ADA as disabled if that person
- has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
- one or more major life activities, has a record of such
- impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. (6)
- Generally, a person is disabled if that person has any
- physiological disorder, condition, disfigurement, anatomical
- loss, or mental or psychological disorder that makes that
- individual unable to perform such functions as caring for
- himself or herself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing,
- hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, or working to the same
- extent as an average person. (7)
-
- However, the exclusion of a person from a particular job or
- position because of a physical or mental impairment is not
- necessarily illegal discrimination under the ADA if that
- individual is not "substantially limited" in a major life
- activity. "[A]n individual is not substantially limited in
- working just because he or she is unable to perform a particular
- job for one employer, or because he or she is unable to perform
- a specialized job or profession requiring extraordinary skill,
- prowess or talent." (8)
-
- In deciding whether a particular person is substantially
- limited in the major life activity of working, it is instructive
- to examine court decisions interpreting the Federal
- Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (9) Courts have held that the
- protections against handicap discrimination in that act do not
- "...include working at the specific job of one's choice....Being
- declared unsuitable for the particular position of police
- officer is not a substantial limitation of a major life
- activity." (10) For example, some disabilities may be
- disqualifying for some jobs or professions. However, if these
- disabilities do not act as a complete bar to other employment
- opportunities, and the person is reasonably able to obtain
- employment despite the disability, then under the ADA there is
- no substantial limitation on the major life activity of working.
-
- There are also certain conditions that the ADA expressly
- excludes from protection. These include current illegal drug
- use, homosexuality, bisexuality, transvestism, exhibitionism,
- voyeurism, gender identity disorder, sexual behavior disorder,
- compulsive gambling, kleptomania, pyromania, and psychoactive
- substance use disorders resulting from current illegal use of
- drugs. (11) Persons with these conditions are excluded from the
- act's definition of disabled persons.
-
- The ADA's exclusion of current illegal drug users as
- protected disabled persons raises a potential concern for law
- enforcement employers. While current illegal drug users do not
- fall within the definition of a qualified disabled individual,
- (12) former drug users are arguably protected by a provision in
- the ADA, which provides that a protected disability includes a
- person who:
-
- "...1) has successfully completed a supervised drug
- rehabilitation program and is no longer engaging in the
- illegal use of drugs, or has otherwise been rehabilitated
- successfully and is no longer engaging in such use; [or]
-
- 2) is participating in a supervised rehabilitation program
- and is no longer engaging in such use." (13)
-
- While there is no caselaw directly on point, it might be
- argued that despite the above-cited ADA provision, law
- enforcement employment can be denied to a former illegal drug
- user because that persons prior conduct evinces unacceptable
- character traits, lack of judgment, or failure to abide by the
- law, all of which are relevant to the hiring and employment of
- police officers. (14)
-
- WHAT CONSTITUTES A "QUALIFIED" INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE ADA?
-
- The determination that a physical or mental impairment
- substantially limits a major life activity and renders a person
- disabled under the ADA only completes the first threshold
- requirement for protection. The ADA also requires that disabled
- persons be nonetheless qualified to perform the work required.
-
- The ADA defines a "qualified individual with a disability"
- as "...an individual with a disability who, with or without
- reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of
- the employment position that such individual holds or desires."
- (15) A law enforcement administrator's judgment as to what
- functions are essential to a job and any written job description
- used during the application or hiring process are considered
- under the ADA to be evidence of a position's essential functions.
- (16)
-
- Also relevant to these essential functions determinations
- are the amount of time expended during the workday performing
- certain functions, the consequences if those tasks are not
- performed, and the work experience of current and past
- incumbents of the position. (17) Law enforcement administrators
- should carefully identify the essential functions of each
- particular job in their department, since the clear import of
- the ADA is that discrimination on the basis of a disability that
- affects only marginal or peripheral functions and not the
- performance of essential functions is illegal. (18)
-
- Police administrators preparing for the full implementation
- of the ADA would be well-served to review each job
- classification within their agency thoroughly, paying particular
- attention to tasks that require special skills, talents, or
- abilities to perform the job's essential functions. The
- essential functions should be isolated so that informed
- judgments can be made as to the capability of disabled
- applicants or employees to hold those jobs successfully.
-
- WHEN DO MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND INQUIRIES VIOLATE THE ADA?
-
- The ADA contains specific prohibitions and requirements
- concerning medical examinations and inquiries about
- disabilities. The ADA provides that an employer can only
- "...conduct a medical examination or make inquiries of a job
- applicant as to whether such applicant is an individual with a
- disability or as to the nature or severity of such
- disability...after an offer of employment has been made to a job
- applicant...." (19)
-
- The employer may, however, condition an offer of employment
- on the results of such an examination. (20) Where a medical
- examination is required after a conditional offer of employment
- is made, the following three additional restrictions are
- contained in the statute:
-
- 1) All new employees must be subject to the medical
- examination;
-
- 2) The information obtained during the medical examination
- and the medical history of the applicant collected must
- be maintained "...on separate forms and in separate
- files and...treated as a confidential medical
- record..."; (21) and
-
- 3) The results of the examination may be used only in
- accordance with the act. (22)
-
- EFFECTS ON HIRING PRACTICES
-
- The ADA's limitations on medical examinations and inquiries
- concerning disabilities may require several significant changes
- in police hiring practices. First, those law enforcement
- agencies that require applicants to undergo a complete medical
- examination early in the application process may be required to
- shift the medical examination to the later stages of the
- application process. This is because law enforcement agencies
- covered by the ADA will have to first determine that an
- applicant is eligible to be hired and make a conditional offer
- of employment before subjecting the applicant to a medical
- examination. Second, law enforcement executives will have to
- ensure the medical standards tested during the examination,
- which might be disqualifying, are related to the essential
- functions of the job before the offer of employment can be
- withdrawn.
-
- A third likely change in police hiring practices concerns
- psychological testing. The use of psychological testing as an
- employment screening device appears to be a growing practice,
- (23) with some States requiring it as matter of law. (24) While
- the ADA does not ban the use of psychological testing, it may
- require such testing be postponed until after a conditional
- offer of employment is made because: 1) Psychological testing
- may be construed to be a form of medical examination; and 2) the
- ADA defines a disability to include a mental disorder or
- impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. To
- the extent that psychological testing for personnel screening
- identifies such conditions, the test would be subject to the ADA
- requirement that such medical examinations and inquiries about
- disabilities be done only after offers of employment are made.
-
- A fourth possible change to hiring practices concerns
- application forms that currently contain a section for medical
- information that requires applicants to list potentially
- disabling impairments. Because the ADA provides that such
- inquiries can only be made after an offer of employment,
- application forms provided to applicants as an initial step in
- the hiring process may have to be altered to remove medical and
- disability inquiries. Moreover, the ADA's prohibition on
- inquiries as to the nature or severity of disabilities may also
- affect interviews of police applicants by requiring that
- interviewers be familiar with the ADA and refrain from making
- any prohibited inquiries about an applicant's disability.
-
- Finally, the ADA may require law enforcement agencies to
- rethink their physical ability hiring standards. Tests that
- measure overall levels of fitness or specific physical abilities
- as a condition of employment can now be challenged under the ADA
- as not being job-related or consistent with a business
- necessity. Law enforcement physical ability and agility tests
- have already spawned considerable litigation under Title VII of
- the Civil Rights Act, and the ADA provides an additional basis
- on which to raise legal challenges. (25)
-
- PERMITTED EXAMINATIONS AND INQUIRIES
-
- There are four instances where the ADA permits medical
- examinations or inquiries. First, employers can question
- applicants about their ability to perform job-related functions,
- (26) but such questions should not be phrased in terms of the
- disability. (27) For example, police applicants could be asked
- about their ability to drive a car or run a given distance
- within an established time period as a job-related function, but
- should not be asked if there are physical limitations that
- prevent the applicant from driving or running.
-
- Similarly, an employer is permitted to require fitness for
- duty examinations of current employees if required by State law
- or when there is a need to determine whether the employee is
- still able to perform the essential functions of the job.
- However, employers cannot require the fitness for duty
- examination if the employee's condition was not related to job
- performance. (28)
-
- Second, it is permissible to conduct voluntary medical
- examinations and collect voluntary medical histories as part of
- an employee health program available to all employees at the
- work site. (29) Third, medical examinations of employees or
- inquiries about the nature or severity of a disability are
- permissible if shown to be "job-related and consistent with
- business necessity." (30) Fourth, the ADA specifically exempts
- drug testing from the medical examination prohibitions. Though
- it does not appear Congress intended to encourage drug testing
- by employers, those that choose to do so are not constrained by
- the ADA. (31)
-
- DEFENSES TO CHARGES OF UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION
-
- While the ADA is designed to ensure that qualified disabled
- persons are given the same consideration for employment as
- non-disabled persons, it also provides the following three
- defenses that can be raised by employers charged with unlawful
- discrimination:
-
- 1) The qualification standards, tests, or selection
- criteria are job-related and consistent with business
- necessity;
-
- 2) The disabled individual, if hired, would pose a direct
- threat to the health or safety of the individual or
- others; and
-
- 3) The employer is unable to reasonably accommodate the
- disability of the individual. (32)
-
- The Job-related and Consistent with Business Necessity Defense
-
- The concepts of job-relatedness and business necessity
- require that law enforcement administrators preparing for the
- implementation of the ADA conduct an analysis of jobs and tasks
- for the purpose of identifying the essential functions of each
- position. Then, administrators must devise standards and
- criteria that accurately reflect and measure those elements.
- (33) If this is done properly, employment decisions may be made,
- even if they adversely affect disabled persons.
-
- This defense is also important where an employer withdraws
- an offer of employment based on the results of a medical
- examination. The job-relatedness and consistency with business
- necessity must be shown if the exclusionary criteria of a
- medical examination screens out disabled persons. (34)
-
- The Direct Threat to Health or Safety Defense
-
- Employers can lawfully refuse to hire a disabled person
- where the individual, if hired, would pose a direct threat to
- the health or safety of others in the workplace. (35) A direct
- threat is defined by the ADA as "...a significant risk to the
- health or safety of others that cannot be eliminated by
- reasonable accommodation." (36)
-
- Such determinations should be made on a case-by-case basis,
- and employers should carefully base their decisions on sound
- medical knowledge and other objective factors, including the
- duration of the risk, the nature and severity of the potential
- harm, and the likelihood that the potential harm would occur.
- (37) For example, a physical or mental condition that prevents
- an individual from safely operating a patrol car or discharging
- a firearm could constitute a lawful basis for terminating or
- refusing employment as a patrol officer, even though that person
- would be an otherwise "qualified disabled person" under the ADA.
-
- Police administrators should be circumspect in invoking
- this defense since generalized fears, remote possibilities, or
- only slightly enhanced threats to safety or health are
- insufficient reasons for denying employment to a qualified
- disabled person. (38) Employment decisions must be based on
- articulable and objective evidence.
-
- The Inability to Reasonably Accommodate Defense
-
- A third defense available to employers is an inability to
- reasonably accommodate the disability of an employee or
- applicant. The notion underlying the term "reasonable
- accommodation" is that an employer may be able to make certain
- adjustments to the workplace or to the conditions of employment
- so that a disabled person, who otherwise possesses the
- qualifications required for a particular position, is able to
- function as a productive employee.
-
- The ADA expressly embodies the requirement for reasonable
- accommodation in its definition of a qualified individual with a
- disability. (39) An employer's failure to make reasonable
- accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of
- otherwise qualified applicants or employees is proscribed by the
- act. (40)
-
- While the duty to accommodate the disability of an employee
- or applicant reasonably is clear, the degree to which an
- employer is required to alter the conditions of employment is
- less clear. Some of the express requirements of reasonable
- accommodation include: 1) Making existing facilities readily
- accessible to and usable by disabled individuals; 2) job
- restructuring; 3) part-time or modified work schedules; 4)
- reassignment to a vacant position; 5) acquisition or
- modification of equipment; 6) modification of examinations,
- training and policies; and 7) the provision of qualified readers
- or interpreters.(41)
-
- However, the ADA does not require that employers make all
- possible modifications to working conditions under the
- obligation of reasonable accommodation. For example,
- alterations that are primarily for the personal benefit of the
- individual or are not job-related do not fall within the
- obligation of reasonable accommodation. (42) The accommodation
- need not be the employee's or applicants preference or even the
- "best" accommodation, so long as it is sufficient to meet the
- job-related needs of the disabled person. (43) Similarly, an
- employer is not required to restructure the essential functions
- of a position to fit the skills of the disabled person or create
- a new job that the disabled person can perform. (44)
-
- In addition, an employer is not required to accommodate a
- disabled employee or applicant reasonably if it would create an
- undue hardship on the operation of the employer's business. (45)
- The ADA lists the following factors that should be considered in
- determining whether a particular act or modification would
- create an undue hardship: 1) The nature and cost of the
- accommodation; 2) the overall financial resources of the
- employer and the particular facility where the accommodation is
- needed; 3) the number of persons employed at such facilities and
- by the employer in general; and 4) the impact of the
- accommodation upon the operation of the facility. (46)
-
- The Supreme Court has interpreted a similar reasonable
- accommodation requirement under the Federal Rehabilitation Act.
- (47) In School Board of Nassau County v. Arline, (48) a school
- teacher with tuberculosis was removed from his classroom
- assignment. In addressing the school district's obligation to
- reasonably accommodate the handicapped employee, the Supreme
- Court stated:
-
- "Although [employers] are not required to find another job
- for an employee who is qualified for the job he or she was
- doing, they cannot deny an employee alternative employment
- opportunities reasonably available under the employer's
- existing policies." (49)
-
- Similarly, in Southeastern Community College v. Davis, (50)
- the Court ruled that accommodation of an employee's handicap is
- not reasonable when it requires a fundamental change in the
- nature of an employer's program.
-
- There is no indication that Congress intended the ADA's
- reference to job restructuring as a form of reasonable
- accommodation to undercut the Supreme Courts decisions in Arline
- and Davis. The ADA does not obligate employers to create new
- jobs or remove essential functions from the requirements of a
- particular position. However, where a vacant job exists which a
- disabled person could successfully perform, reassignment may be
- required as a form of reasonable accommodation. But, permanent
- assignment to light duty positions would not be required, unless
- permanent light duty positions are normally available. (51)
-
- CONCLUSION
-
- The ADA will require law enforcement administrators to
- analyze their personnel and hiring practices and to determine
- the essential functions of each position in the department. A
- department's application process may have to be restructured to
- ensure that medical and psychological tests are used only after
- a conditional offer of employment has been made, unless such
- tests can be shown to be job-related and consistent with
- business necessity. Law enforcement administrators should also
- determine whether changes in the workplace or conditions of
- employment or other reasonable accommodation can be made to
- permit an otherwise qualified disabled person to perform jobs
- successfully within the police agency.
-
- The ADA will pose new challenges for law enforcement
- administrators. However, with careful pre-planning and
- appropriate consultation with the Equal Employment Opportunity
- Commission, administrators can meet these challenges and ensure
- that their departmental policies and practices are legally
- defensible when the ADA becomes effective.
-
-
- FOOTNOTES
-
- (1) 42 U.S.C. 12101 (1990).
-
- (2) The ADA becomes effective 24 months after the date of
- enactment. In addition, 42 U.S.C. 12111(5)(A) provides that
- employers with 25 or more employees are subject to the act as of
- that date, and that employers with 15 or more employees will be
- subject to the act 2 years after that date. Those employers with
- fewer than 15 employees are not subject to the ADA. The ADA is
- not applicable to the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government.
- However, a closely parallel statute, the Federal Rehabilitation
- Act, 29 U.S.C. 794, already imposes many of the same requirements
- on the Federal Government.
-
- (3) In addition to other requirements discussed in this
- article, the ADA imposes an obligation on employers to "post
- notices in an accessible format to applicants, employees and
- members describing the applicable provisions of the Act." 42
- U.S.C. 12115. It is recommended that in planning for
- implementation of the ADA, law enforcement administrators
- contact their local Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- (EEOC) office to consult on the appropriate language to be
- contained in these notices and for guidance as to the number and
- location of the required notices.
-
- (4) 42 U.S.C. 12112(a).
-
- (5) 42 U.S.C. 12112(c). The ADA is patterned largely
- after Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the statute
- that prohibits employment discrimination based on sex, race,
- religion, color, or national origin. The remedies available to
- an aggrieved qualified disabled person mirror the relief
- available under Title VII. See, 42 U.S.C. 12117. An employer
- who illegally discriminates against qualified disabled persons
- may be liable for lost wages, attorneys' fees, costs, and
- equitable relief.
-
- (6) 42 U.S.C. 12102(2).
-
- (7) See, proposed EEOC regulations, Sections 1630.2(h) and
- (i), 56 Fed. Reg. 8578 (1991) (to be codified at 29 C.F.R. 1630)
- (proposed February 28, 1991).
-
- (8) See, proposed EEOC Interpretive Guidance on Title I of
- the Americans With Disabilities Act, Part 1630.2(j), 50 Fed.
- Reg. 8591 (1991) (proposed February 28, 1991).
-
- (9) 29 U.S.C. 790. Cases decided under the Federal
- Rehabilitation Act are precedentially significant in
- interpreting the ADA because "Congress intended that the
- relevant caselaw developed under the Rehabilitation Act be
- generally applicable to the term `disability' as used in the
- ADA." See, proposed EEOC Interpretive Guidance on Title I of
- the ADA, Part 1630.2(g), supra, note 8 and 42 U.S.C. 12201(a).
-
- (10) Daley v. Koch, 892 F.2d 212, 215 (2d Cir. 1989). See
- also, Forrissi v. Bowen, 794 F.2d 931 (4th Cir. 1986) and
- Padilla v. City of Topeka, 708 P.2d 543 (Kan. 1985).
-
- (11) 42 U.S.C. 12208 and 12211.
-
- (12) 42 U.S.C. 12210(a).
-
- (13) 42 U.S.C. 12210(b).
-
- (14) See, Johnson v. Smith, 39 F.E.P. Cases 1106 (D. Minn.
- 1985). An analogous argument was successful in Huff v. Israel,
- 573 F.Supp. 107 (M.D. Ga. 1983), where a law enforcement employee
- was dismissed following three off-duty convictions for driving
- under the influence of alcohol. The employee sued, claiming
- protection of the Rehabilitation Act. The court ruled that the
- employee was not being dismissed because of his handicap
- (alcoholism), but because of his criminal convictions, which
- demonstrated his inability to carry out the duties of law
- enforcement when he personally could not comply with the law.
- See also, Copeland v. Philadelphia Police Department, 840 F.2d
- 1139 (3d Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 109 S.Ct. 1636 (1989)
- (termination of officer who used marijuana did not violate the
- Rehabilitation Act, since the officer was not otherwise qualified
- to perform the job). Accord, AFGE v. Skinner, 885 F.2d 884 (D.C.
- Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 110 S.Ct. 1960 (1990); Herron v.
- McGuire, 803 F.2d 67 (2d Cir. 1986); Burka v. N.Y. Transit
- Authority, 680 F.Supp. 590 (S.D.N.Y. 1988).
-
- (15) 42 U.S.C. 12111(8).
-
- (16) Id.
-
- (17) See, proposed EEOC regulations, Sections 1630.2(n),
- supra, note 7.
-
- (18) The following cases discuss various physical and
- mental conditions that have been litigated under the Federal
- Rehabilitation Act, see, infra, note 9, and may have
- precedential significance in interpreting the ADA:
- Vision--Trembczynski v. City of Calumet City, No. 87C 0961
- (N.D. Ill. 1987) (not reported, text in Westlaw); Padilla v.
- City of Topeka, 708 P.2d 543 (Kansas 1985); City of Belleville
- Police and Fire Commissioners v. Human Rights Commission, 522
- N.E.2d 268 (Ill. App. 5 Dist. 1988); City of Columbus v. Ohio
- Civil Rights Commission, 492 N.E.2d 482 (Ohio App. 1985); State
- by Cooper v. Hennepin County, 425 N.W.2d 278 (Minn. App. 1988),
- aff'd, 441 N.W.2d 106 (Minn. 1989). Back or Shoulder
- Injury--Dancy v. Kline, 44 F.E.P. Cases 380 (N.D. Ill. 1987);
- Mullen v. Princess Anne Volunteer Fire Co., Inc., 853 F.2d 1130
- (4th Cir. 1988); Daniels v. Barry, 659 F.Supp. 999 (D.D.C.
- 1987); Mahoney v. Ortiz, 645 F.Supp. 22 (S.D.N.Y. 1986).
- Hypertension--Jurgella v. Danielson, 764 P.2d 27 (Ariz. App.
- 1988). Heart Condition--Cook v. Department of Labor, 688 F.2d
- 669 (9th Cir. 1982), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 832 (1983); Walker
- v. Attorney General of the United States, 570 F.Supp. 100
- (D.D.C. 1983). Disease--School Board of Nassau County v.
- Arline, 107 S.Ct. 1123 (1987); Local 1812, AFGE v. Department of
- State, 662 F.Supp. 50 (D.D.C. 1987); Shelby Township Fire Dept.
- v. Shields, 320 N.W.2d 306 (Mich. App. 1982).
- Epilepsy--Pineiro v. Lehman, 653 F.Supp. 483 (D.P.R. 1987);
- Costner v. United States, 720 F.2d 539 (8th Cir. 1983); Duran v.
- City of Tampa, 430 F.Supp. 75 (M.D. Fla. 1977). Psychological
- Ailment--Desper v. Montgomery County, 727 F.Supp. 959 (E.D. Pa.
- 1990); Pickut v. Dept. of Air Force, 24 MSPR 433 (M.S.P.B. 184);
- Daley v. Koch, 892 F.2d 212 (2d Cir. 1989). Hearing
- Loss--Packard v. Gordon, 537 A.2d 140 (Vt. 1987). Alcohol--Huff
- v. Israel, 573 F.Supp. 107 (M.D. Ga. 1983).
- Allergies--Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Pennsylvania Human
- Relations Commission, 457 A.2d 584 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1983). Missing
- Organ--Pennsylvania State Police v. Commonwealth, 483 A.2d 1039
- (Pa. Cmwlth. 1984), revd on other grounds, 517 A.2d 1253 (Pa.
- 1985). Weight--Tudyman v. United Airlines, 608 F.Supp. 739
- (C.D. Cal. 1984); United Paramedics of Los Angeles v. City of
- Los Angeles, No. 89-1182-R, C.D. Cal. 3/8/89; Smith v. Folmar,
- 534 So.2d 309 (Ala. Civ. App. 1988).
-
- (19) 42 U.S.C. 12112 (c)(2)-(3).
-
- (20) Id.
-
- (21) Id.
-
- (22) Id. The permitted uses of medical information
- include notification to supervisors and managers of duty or work
- restriction; notice to first aid, safety, or emergency
- personnel; and disclosure to government officials investigating
- compliance with the ADA.
-
- (23) 36 Law and Order 66 (Feb. 1988) (55% of law
- enforcement agencies nationwide now use psychological testing
- for personnel screening).
-
- (24) See, e.g., Young, "Reviewing the Pre-Employment
- Psychological Test," Journal of California Law Enforcement, vol.
- 22, No. 47, 1988.
-
- (25) For a discussion of some of these legal issues, see,
- Daniel L. Schofield, "Establishing Health and Fitness Standards:
- Legal Considerations," FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, vol. 58,
- No. 6, June 1989.
-
- (26) 42 U.S.C. 12112(c)(2)(B) and 12112 (c)(4).
-
- (27) See, proposed EEOC Interpretive Guidance of Title I
- of the ADA, APart 1630.13(b), supra, note 8.
-
- (28) Id.
-
- (29) 42 U.S.C. 12112 (c)(4)(B).
-
- (30) 42 U.S.C. 12112(c)(4)(A).
-
- (31) 42 U.S.C. 12114(d).
-
- (32) 42 U.S.C. 12113.
-
- (33) Neither the ADA nor the proposed regulations provide
- a definition of "job-related" or "business necessity." However,
- both terms have been used in connection with Title VII
- litigation and caselaw under that statute would be instructive
- on their meaning in the ADA.
-
- (34) See, proposed EEOC Interpretive Guidance on Title I
- of the Americans With Disabilities Act, Part 1630.14(b), supra,
- note 8.
-
- (35) 42 U.S.C. 12113(b).
-
- (36) 42 U.S.C. 12111(3). However, the proposed
- regulations and guidelines issued by the EEOC expand this to
- include direct threats to the health or safety of the applicant
- or employee personally, as well as to other persons. See,
- proposed EEOC regulations, Section 1630.2(r), supra, note 7;
- EEOC Interpretive Guidance on Title I of the Americans With
- Disabilities Act, Section 1630.2(r), supra, note 8.
-
- (37) See, proposed EEOC regulations, Section 1630.2(r),
- supra, note 7.
-
- (38) See, proposed EEOC Interpretive Guidance on Title I
- of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 1630.2(r),
- supra, note 8.
-
- (39) 42 U.S.C. 12111(8).
-
- (40) 42 U.S.C. 12112(b)(5)(A).
-
- (41) 42 U.S.C. 12111(9)
-
- (42) See, proposed EEOC Interpretive Guidance on Title I
- of the Americans With Disabilities Act, Part 1630.2(o), supra,
- note 8.
-
- (43) Id.
-
- (44) Id.
-
- (45) 42 U.S.C. 12112(b)(5)(A).
-
- (46) 42 U.S.C. 12111(10).
-
- (47) 29 U.S.C. 794.
-
- (48) 107 S.Ct. 1123 (1987).
-
- (49) Id. at 1131, n.16.
-
- (50) 442 U.S. 397 (1979).
-
- (51) See, Simon v. St. Louis County, 735 F.2d 1082 (8th
- Cir. 1984); Dancy v. Kline, 44 F.E.P. Cases 380 (N.D. Ill,
- 1987); Pineiro v. Lehman, 653 F.Supp. 483 (D.P.R. 1987).