SENATE BILL No. 649

 

 

July 24, 2007, Introduced by Senator GLEASON and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Tourism.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1984 PA 274, entitled

 

"Michigan antitrust reform act,"

 

by amending section 4a (MCL 445.774a), as added by 1987 PA 243.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 4a. (1) An employer may obtain from an employee an

 

agreement or covenant which that protects an employer's reasonable

 

competitive business interests and expressly prohibits an employee

 

from engaging in employment or a line of business after termination

 

of employment if the agreement or covenant is reasonable as to its

 

duration, geographical area, and the type of employment or line of

 

business. To the extent any such agreement or covenant is found to

 

be unreasonable in any respect, a court may limit the agreement to

 

render it reasonable in light of the circumstances in which it was

 


made and specifically enforce the agreement as limited.

 

     (2) A broadcasting industry contract provision that requires

 

an employee or prospective employee to refrain from obtaining

 

employment in a specified geographic area for a specified time

 

following expiration of the contract or upon termination of

 

employment without fault of the employee is presumed to be

 

unreasonable. A person who suffers damages from the enforcement or

 

attempted enforcement of an unreasonable contract provision in

 

violation of this subsection is entitled to damages, reasonable

 

attorney fees, and costs as provided in section 8(2).

 

     (3) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise

 

indicates, "broadcasting industry contract" means an employment

 

contract between an individual and a legal entity, or an affiliate

 

of a legal entity, that owns 1 or more television stations or

 

networks or 1 or more radio stations or networks.

 

     (4) (2) This section shall apply applies to covenants and

 

agreements which that are entered into after March 29, 1985.