Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 42 : Section 12111


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 12111. Definitions

      As used in this subchapter:
      (1) Commission
        The term "Commission" means the Equal Employment Opportunity
      Commission established by section 2000e-4 of this title.
      (2) Covered entity
        The term "covered entity" means an employer, employment agency,
      labor organization, or joint labor-management committee.
      (3) Direct threat
        The term "direct threat" means a significant risk to the health
      or safety of others that cannot be eliminated by reasonable
      accommodation.
      (4) Employee
        The term "employee" means an individual employed by an
      employer. With respect to employment in a foreign country, such
      term includes an individual who is a citizen of the United
      States.
      (5) Employer
        (A) In general
          The term "employer" means a person engaged in an industry
        affecting commerce who has 15 or more employees for each
        working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current
        or preceding calendar year, and any agent of such person,
        except that, for two years following the effective date of this
        subchapter, an employer means a person engaged in an industry
        affecting commerce who has 25 or more employees for each
        working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current
        or preceding year, and any agent of such person.
        (B) Exceptions
          The term "employer" does not include - 
            (i) the United States, a corporation wholly owned by the
          government of the United States, or an Indian tribe; or
            (ii) a bona fide private membership club (other than a
          labor organization) that is exempt from taxation under
          section 501(c) of title 26.
      (6) Illegal use of drugs
        (A) In general
          The term "illegal use of drugs" means the use of drugs, the
        possession or distribution of which is unlawful under the
        Controlled Substances Act [21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.]. Such term
        does not include the use of a drug taken under supervision by a
        licensed health care professional, or other uses authorized by
        the Controlled Substances Act or other provisions of Federal
        law.
        (B) Drugs
          The term "drug" means a controlled substance, as defined in
        schedules I through V of section 202 of the Controlled
        Substances Act [21 U.S.C. 812].
      (7) Person, etc.
        The terms "person", "labor organization", "employment agency",
      "commerce", and "industry affecting commerce", shall have the
      same meaning given such terms in section 2000e of this title.
      (8) Qualified individual with a disability
        The term "qualified individual with a disability" means 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. For
      the purposes of this subchapter, consideration shall be given to
      the employer's judgment as to what functions of a job are
      essential, and if an employer has prepared a written description
      before advertising or interviewing applicants for the job, this
      description shall be considered evidence of the essential
      functions of the job.
      (9) Reasonable accommodation
        The term "reasonable accommodation" may include - 
          (A) making existing facilities used by employees readily
        accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; and
          (B) job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules,
        reassignment to a vacant position, acquisition or modification
        of equipment or devices, appropriate adjustment or
        modifications of examinations, training materials or policies,
        the provision of qualified readers or interpreters, and other
        similar accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
      (10) Undue hardship
        (A) In general
          The term "undue hardship" means an action requiring
        significant difficulty or expense, when considered in light of
        the factors set forth in subparagraph (B).
        (B) Factors to be considered
          In determining whether an accommodation would impose an undue
        hardship on a covered entity, factors to be considered include
        - 
            (i) the nature and cost of the accommodation needed under
          this chapter;
            (ii) the overall financial resources of the facility or
          facilities involved in the provision of the reasonable
          accommodation; the number of persons employed at such
          facility; the effect on expenses and resources, or the impact
          otherwise of such accommodation upon the operation of the
          facility;
            (iii) the overall financial resources of the covered
          entity; the overall size of the business of a covered entity
          with respect to the number of its employees; the number,
          type, and location of its facilities; and
            (iv) the type of operation or operations of the covered
          entity, including the composition, structure, and functions
          of the workforce of such entity; the geographic separateness,
          administrative, or fiscal relationship of the facility or
          facilities in question to the covered entity.



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