Bill looks at height, weight discrimination

“My weight and my height have nothing to do with what’s in my brain.”

The state Senate has passed a bill that would expand New Jersey’s anti-discrimination statutes.

During Monday’s first voting session of the new legislative term, state senators, along party lines, passed a bill that would prohibit discrimination based on height and weight.

The legislation, sponsored by Democratic state Sens. Andrew Zwicker and Angela McKnight, is modeled after Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which was the first of its kind the United States. Federal law does not protect people from discrimination based on height and weight.

McKnight, who represents Hudson County, said she wants to ensure that New Jersey protects all classes and said she thinks it’s important that people of all sizes not be subjected to discrimination.

“I’m a tall woman. I should not be discriminated against just because I’m tall,” she said.

“My weight and my height have nothing to do with what’s in my brain.”

Zwicker, who represents Central Jersey, was not on hand Monday morning but said in a statement that “roughly 40% of adults struggle with obesity and their weight, and about 20% of children, but this sort of discrimination and bias goes well beyond societal impacts of what we have imposed as a norm.”

There are exceptions, though, in cases where height and weight restrictions are considered bona fide occupational qualifications and safety reasons.

The bill did meet some resistance. State Sen. Jon Bramnick, a Republican, said that although the legislation is well-intentioned, it is likely to create havoc because the exceptions based on occupational qualification and safety are not adequately spelled out.

A companion bill has not yet been introduced in the state Assembly.

An accompanying bill would need to be passed by that body before the legislation can head to the Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk.