Amended IN Assembly May 02, 2018 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 3109Introduced by Assembly Member Mark Stone(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Friedman and Reyes)February 16, 2018 An act to add Section 1670.11 to the Civil Code, relating to contracts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 3109, as amended, Mark Stone. Contracts: waiver of right of petition or free speech.The California Constitution provides that the people have the right to petition government for redress of grievances and to assemble freely to consult for the common good. The California Constitution provides that every person may freely speak, write, and publish his or her sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of this right. Existing law generally regulates formation and enforcement of contracts, including what constitutes an unlawful contract. Under existing law, a contract is unlawful if it is contrary to an express provision of law, contrary to the policy of express law, though not expressly prohibited, or otherwise contrary to good morals. A contract is also void to the extent that it restrains a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind.This bill would specify that make a provision in a contract or settlement agreement is void and unenforceable if it includes a provision that waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue or restricts to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or sexual harassment or if it constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares as follows:(1) The California Supreme Court, in finding a noncompetition agreement void and unenforceable, held that state law evinces a settled legislative policy in favor of open competition and employee mobility (Edwards v. Arthur Anderson LLP (2008) 44 Cal.4th 937, 946).(2) Although the court held a noncompetition agreement void and unenforceable, the same principle should hold true for no rehire provisions in settlement agreements that impose substantial constraints on a persons ability to engage in a lawful profession, trade, or business. This same principle is embodied in Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code, which provides, subject to certain exceptions, that every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is, to that extent, void.(b) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this measure is to follow the reasoning of the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit in Golden v. California Emergency Physicians Medical Group (2015) 782 F.3d 1083, which held that Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code applies to any contract that restrains a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business, and is therefore not restricted to noncompetition agreements. It is also the intent of the Legislature to follow the courts reasoning that an agreement need not completely preclude a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business in order to be void and unenforceable, but that any agreement that imposes a restraint of a substantial character on a persons ability to engage in a lawful profession, trade, or business is void and unenforceable.SECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 1670.11 is added to the Civil Code, to read:1670.11. (a)Notwithstanding any other law, a provision in a contract or settlement agreement entered into on or after January 1, 2019, that does either of the following is void and unenforceable:(1)Waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue.(2)Restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.(b)As used in this section, a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(1)Any written or oral statement or writing made before a legislative, executive, or judicial proceeding, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(2)Any written or oral statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative, executive, or judicial body, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(3)Any written or oral statement or writing made in a place open to the public or a public forum in connection with an issue of public interest.(4)Any other conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of petition or the constitutional right of free speech in connection with a public issue or an issue of public interest.(a) Waives a partys right to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or alleged sexual harassment on the part of the other party to the contract or settlement agreement, or on the part of the agents or employees of the other party, when the party has been required or requested to attend the proceeding pursuant to a court order, subpoena, or written request from an administrative agency or the legislature.(b) Constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession. This paragraph does not preclude a provision in a contract or settlement agreement that restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment with the partys existing or prior employer who is a party to the contract unless the employer is a state agency, including a segment of the public postsecondary education system, a business with five or more locations in the state, or a business that so dominates the labor market that such a restriction would impose a substantial restraint on the partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.
Amended IN Assembly May 02, 2018 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 3109Introduced by Assembly Member Mark Stone(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Friedman and Reyes)February 16, 2018 An act to add Section 1670.11 to the Civil Code, relating to contracts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 3109, as amended, Mark Stone. Contracts: waiver of right of petition or free speech.The California Constitution provides that the people have the right to petition government for redress of grievances and to assemble freely to consult for the common good. The California Constitution provides that every person may freely speak, write, and publish his or her sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of this right. Existing law generally regulates formation and enforcement of contracts, including what constitutes an unlawful contract. Under existing law, a contract is unlawful if it is contrary to an express provision of law, contrary to the policy of express law, though not expressly prohibited, or otherwise contrary to good morals. A contract is also void to the extent that it restrains a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind.This bill would specify that make a provision in a contract or settlement agreement is void and unenforceable if it includes a provision that waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue or restricts to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or sexual harassment or if it constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
Amended IN Assembly May 02, 2018
Amended IN Assembly May 02, 2018
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill No. 3109
Introduced by Assembly Member Mark Stone(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Friedman and Reyes)February 16, 2018
Introduced by Assembly Member Mark Stone(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Friedman and Reyes)
February 16, 2018
An act to add Section 1670.11 to the Civil Code, relating to contracts.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 3109, as amended, Mark Stone. Contracts: waiver of right of petition or free speech.
The California Constitution provides that the people have the right to petition government for redress of grievances and to assemble freely to consult for the common good. The California Constitution provides that every person may freely speak, write, and publish his or her sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of this right. Existing law generally regulates formation and enforcement of contracts, including what constitutes an unlawful contract. Under existing law, a contract is unlawful if it is contrary to an express provision of law, contrary to the policy of express law, though not expressly prohibited, or otherwise contrary to good morals. A contract is also void to the extent that it restrains a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind.This bill would specify that make a provision in a contract or settlement agreement is void and unenforceable if it includes a provision that waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue or restricts to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or sexual harassment or if it constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.
The California Constitution provides that the people have the right to petition government for redress of grievances and to assemble freely to consult for the common good. The California Constitution provides that every person may freely speak, write, and publish his or her sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of this right. Existing law generally regulates formation and enforcement of contracts, including what constitutes an unlawful contract. Under existing law, a contract is unlawful if it is contrary to an express provision of law, contrary to the policy of express law, though not expressly prohibited, or otherwise contrary to good morals. A contract is also void to the extent that it restrains a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind.
This bill would specify that make a provision in a contract or settlement agreement is void and unenforceable if it includes a provision that waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue or restricts to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or sexual harassment or if it constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares as follows:(1) The California Supreme Court, in finding a noncompetition agreement void and unenforceable, held that state law evinces a settled legislative policy in favor of open competition and employee mobility (Edwards v. Arthur Anderson LLP (2008) 44 Cal.4th 937, 946).(2) Although the court held a noncompetition agreement void and unenforceable, the same principle should hold true for no rehire provisions in settlement agreements that impose substantial constraints on a persons ability to engage in a lawful profession, trade, or business. This same principle is embodied in Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code, which provides, subject to certain exceptions, that every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is, to that extent, void.(b) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this measure is to follow the reasoning of the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit in Golden v. California Emergency Physicians Medical Group (2015) 782 F.3d 1083, which held that Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code applies to any contract that restrains a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business, and is therefore not restricted to noncompetition agreements. It is also the intent of the Legislature to follow the courts reasoning that an agreement need not completely preclude a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business in order to be void and unenforceable, but that any agreement that imposes a restraint of a substantial character on a persons ability to engage in a lawful profession, trade, or business is void and unenforceable.SECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 1670.11 is added to the Civil Code, to read:1670.11. (a)Notwithstanding any other law, a provision in a contract or settlement agreement entered into on or after January 1, 2019, that does either of the following is void and unenforceable:(1)Waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue.(2)Restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.(b)As used in this section, a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(1)Any written or oral statement or writing made before a legislative, executive, or judicial proceeding, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(2)Any written or oral statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative, executive, or judicial body, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(3)Any written or oral statement or writing made in a place open to the public or a public forum in connection with an issue of public interest.(4)Any other conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of petition or the constitutional right of free speech in connection with a public issue or an issue of public interest.(a) Waives a partys right to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or alleged sexual harassment on the part of the other party to the contract or settlement agreement, or on the part of the agents or employees of the other party, when the party has been required or requested to attend the proceeding pursuant to a court order, subpoena, or written request from an administrative agency or the legislature.(b) Constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession. This paragraph does not preclude a provision in a contract or settlement agreement that restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment with the partys existing or prior employer who is a party to the contract unless the employer is a state agency, including a segment of the public postsecondary education system, a business with five or more locations in the state, or a business that so dominates the labor market that such a restriction would impose a substantial restraint on the partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares as follows:(1) The California Supreme Court, in finding a noncompetition agreement void and unenforceable, held that state law evinces a settled legislative policy in favor of open competition and employee mobility (Edwards v. Arthur Anderson LLP (2008) 44 Cal.4th 937, 946).(2) Although the court held a noncompetition agreement void and unenforceable, the same principle should hold true for no rehire provisions in settlement agreements that impose substantial constraints on a persons ability to engage in a lawful profession, trade, or business. This same principle is embodied in Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code, which provides, subject to certain exceptions, that every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is, to that extent, void.(b) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this measure is to follow the reasoning of the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit in Golden v. California Emergency Physicians Medical Group (2015) 782 F.3d 1083, which held that Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code applies to any contract that restrains a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business, and is therefore not restricted to noncompetition agreements. It is also the intent of the Legislature to follow the courts reasoning that an agreement need not completely preclude a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business in order to be void and unenforceable, but that any agreement that imposes a restraint of a substantial character on a persons ability to engage in a lawful profession, trade, or business is void and unenforceable.
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares as follows:(1) The California Supreme Court, in finding a noncompetition agreement void and unenforceable, held that state law evinces a settled legislative policy in favor of open competition and employee mobility (Edwards v. Arthur Anderson LLP (2008) 44 Cal.4th 937, 946).(2) Although the court held a noncompetition agreement void and unenforceable, the same principle should hold true for no rehire provisions in settlement agreements that impose substantial constraints on a persons ability to engage in a lawful profession, trade, or business. This same principle is embodied in Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code, which provides, subject to certain exceptions, that every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is, to that extent, void.(b) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this measure is to follow the reasoning of the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit in Golden v. California Emergency Physicians Medical Group (2015) 782 F.3d 1083, which held that Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code applies to any contract that restrains a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business, and is therefore not restricted to noncompetition agreements. It is also the intent of the Legislature to follow the courts reasoning that an agreement need not completely preclude a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business in order to be void and unenforceable, but that any agreement that imposes a restraint of a substantial character on a persons ability to engage in a lawful profession, trade, or business is void and unenforceable.
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
### SECTION 1.
(1) The California Supreme Court, in finding a noncompetition agreement void and unenforceable, held that state law evinces a settled legislative policy in favor of open competition and employee mobility (Edwards v. Arthur Anderson LLP (2008) 44 Cal.4th 937, 946).
(2) Although the court held a noncompetition agreement void and unenforceable, the same principle should hold true for no rehire provisions in settlement agreements that impose substantial constraints on a persons ability to engage in a lawful profession, trade, or business. This same principle is embodied in Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code, which provides, subject to certain exceptions, that every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is, to that extent, void.
(b) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this measure is to follow the reasoning of the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit in Golden v. California Emergency Physicians Medical Group (2015) 782 F.3d 1083, which held that Section 16600 of the Business and Professions Code applies to any contract that restrains a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business, and is therefore not restricted to noncompetition agreements. It is also the intent of the Legislature to follow the courts reasoning that an agreement need not completely preclude a person from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business in order to be void and unenforceable, but that any agreement that imposes a restraint of a substantial character on a persons ability to engage in a lawful profession, trade, or business is void and unenforceable.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 1670.11 is added to the Civil Code, to read:1670.11. (a)Notwithstanding any other law, a provision in a contract or settlement agreement entered into on or after January 1, 2019, that does either of the following is void and unenforceable:(1)Waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue.(2)Restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.(b)As used in this section, a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(1)Any written or oral statement or writing made before a legislative, executive, or judicial proceeding, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(2)Any written or oral statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative, executive, or judicial body, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(3)Any written or oral statement or writing made in a place open to the public or a public forum in connection with an issue of public interest.(4)Any other conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of petition or the constitutional right of free speech in connection with a public issue or an issue of public interest.(a) Waives a partys right to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or alleged sexual harassment on the part of the other party to the contract or settlement agreement, or on the part of the agents or employees of the other party, when the party has been required or requested to attend the proceeding pursuant to a court order, subpoena, or written request from an administrative agency or the legislature.(b) Constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession. This paragraph does not preclude a provision in a contract or settlement agreement that restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment with the partys existing or prior employer who is a party to the contract unless the employer is a state agency, including a segment of the public postsecondary education system, a business with five or more locations in the state, or a business that so dominates the labor market that such a restriction would impose a substantial restraint on the partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 1670.11 is added to the Civil Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.SEC. 2.
1670.11. (a)Notwithstanding any other law, a provision in a contract or settlement agreement entered into on or after January 1, 2019, that does either of the following is void and unenforceable:(1)Waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue.(2)Restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.(b)As used in this section, a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(1)Any written or oral statement or writing made before a legislative, executive, or judicial proceeding, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(2)Any written or oral statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative, executive, or judicial body, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(3)Any written or oral statement or writing made in a place open to the public or a public forum in connection with an issue of public interest.(4)Any other conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of petition or the constitutional right of free speech in connection with a public issue or an issue of public interest.(a) Waives a partys right to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or alleged sexual harassment on the part of the other party to the contract or settlement agreement, or on the part of the agents or employees of the other party, when the party has been required or requested to attend the proceeding pursuant to a court order, subpoena, or written request from an administrative agency or the legislature.(b) Constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession. This paragraph does not preclude a provision in a contract or settlement agreement that restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment with the partys existing or prior employer who is a party to the contract unless the employer is a state agency, including a segment of the public postsecondary education system, a business with five or more locations in the state, or a business that so dominates the labor market that such a restriction would impose a substantial restraint on the partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.
1670.11. (a)Notwithstanding any other law, a provision in a contract or settlement agreement entered into on or after January 1, 2019, that does either of the following is void and unenforceable:(1)Waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue.(2)Restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.(b)As used in this section, a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(1)Any written or oral statement or writing made before a legislative, executive, or judicial proceeding, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(2)Any written or oral statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative, executive, or judicial body, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(3)Any written or oral statement or writing made in a place open to the public or a public forum in connection with an issue of public interest.(4)Any other conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of petition or the constitutional right of free speech in connection with a public issue or an issue of public interest.(a) Waives a partys right to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or alleged sexual harassment on the part of the other party to the contract or settlement agreement, or on the part of the agents or employees of the other party, when the party has been required or requested to attend the proceeding pursuant to a court order, subpoena, or written request from an administrative agency or the legislature.(b) Constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession. This paragraph does not preclude a provision in a contract or settlement agreement that restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment with the partys existing or prior employer who is a party to the contract unless the employer is a state agency, including a segment of the public postsecondary education system, a business with five or more locations in the state, or a business that so dominates the labor market that such a restriction would impose a substantial restraint on the partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.
1670.11. (a)Notwithstanding any other law, a provision in a contract or settlement agreement entered into on or after January 1, 2019, that does either of the following is void and unenforceable:(1)Waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue.(2)Restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.(b)As used in this section, a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:(1)Any written or oral statement or writing made before a legislative, executive, or judicial proceeding, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(2)Any written or oral statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative, executive, or judicial body, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.(3)Any written or oral statement or writing made in a place open to the public or a public forum in connection with an issue of public interest.(4)Any other conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of petition or the constitutional right of free speech in connection with a public issue or an issue of public interest.(a) Waives a partys right to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or alleged sexual harassment on the part of the other party to the contract or settlement agreement, or on the part of the agents or employees of the other party, when the party has been required or requested to attend the proceeding pursuant to a court order, subpoena, or written request from an administrative agency or the legislature.(b) Constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession. This paragraph does not preclude a provision in a contract or settlement agreement that restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment with the partys existing or prior employer who is a party to the contract unless the employer is a state agency, including a segment of the public postsecondary education system, a business with five or more locations in the state, or a business that so dominates the labor market that such a restriction would impose a substantial restraint on the partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.
1670.11. (a)Notwithstanding any other law, a provision in a contract or settlement agreement entered into on or after January 1, 2019, that does either of the following is void and unenforceable:
(1)Waives a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue.
(2)Restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.
(b)As used in this section, a partys right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Any written or oral statement or writing made before a legislative, executive, or judicial proceeding, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.
(2)Any written or oral statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative, executive, or judicial body, or any other official proceeding authorized by law.
(3)Any written or oral statement or writing made in a place open to the public or a public forum in connection with an issue of public interest.
(4)Any other conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of petition or the constitutional right of free speech in connection with a public issue or an issue of public interest.
(a) Waives a partys right to testify in an administrative, legislative, or judicial proceeding concerning alleged criminal conduct or alleged sexual harassment on the part of the other party to the contract or settlement agreement, or on the part of the agents or employees of the other party, when the party has been required or requested to attend the proceeding pursuant to a court order, subpoena, or written request from an administrative agency or the legislature.
(b) Constitutes a substantial restraint on a partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession. This paragraph does not preclude a provision in a contract or settlement agreement that restricts a partys right to seek employment or reemployment with the partys existing or prior employer who is a party to the contract unless the employer is a state agency, including a segment of the public postsecondary education system, a business with five or more locations in the state, or a business that so dominates the labor market that such a restriction would impose a substantial restraint on the partys right to seek employment or reemployment in any lawful occupation or profession.