JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Several Missouri lawyers and civil rights groups are urging Gov. Jay Nixon to veto a bill that would change the legal standard workers must meet when they file discrimination lawsuits against former employers.

In letters released this week to The Associated Press, the groups ask Nixon to veto legislation which they say would give employers less incentive to prevent discrimination. Nixon has indicated he is opposed to the legislation and will take action on it Friday.

The legislation would require workers who claim discrimination in wrongful firing lawsuits to prove that bias was a "motivating" factor, not just a "contributing" factor as is now the case. It also would limit punitive damages, ranging from $50,000 to $300,000, depending on the size of the company. Similar limits would apply to whistleblowers who report incidents of discrimination to state authorities, if they sue their employer for retaliating against them.