MADISON, Wis. -- To mark Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, a state lawmaker said on Monday that he intends to introduce a bill in the state Legislature that will extend several key federal civil rights protections to state employees, including University of Wisconsin workers.

Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, said that he is introducing the measure that will waive the state's ability to exempt its workers from enjoying several protections. Because of existing federal and state laws and subsequent court rulings, such landmark federal legislation as the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Age Discrimination Employment Act and others don't apply to about 60,000 state workers unless a state's law specifies as such.

Mason said that his legislation would restore all these benefits to Wisconsin residents.

"The U.S. Supreme Court has decided, in a series of decisions in the last decade, that state's sovereign immunity trumps equal protection," Mason said. "The court put the ball back in the state's court; It is our time to act."

The state's sovereign immunity under the 11th Amendment guarantees that the state can't be sued, WISC-TV reported.

Mason said that he thinks Monday's holiday was an ideal time to launch his initiative.

"I can think of no more appropriate day to announce this bill than on Martin Luther King Day," he said.

The bill, if it passes, would preclude the state's sovereign immunity in matters pertaining to federal civil rights legislation.

Mason said that he is currently seeking co-sponsors for the legislation and plans to introduce the measure next week.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.