THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL AT A GLANCE

The US House of Representatives is considering a measure that: * Shifts burden of proof in discrimination suits to employers to show that practices with unequal impact are legitimate and necessary.

* Allows punitive damage awards in bias cases based on gender or religion, not just in race cases, as under current law. But such damages would be capped at $150,000.

* Explicitly forbids the use of quotas in the workplace. This ban would not be more restrictive than current law.