Honoring humanity creates an equitable and just society.
Often, in the United States, the guarantee of human rights starts with recognition in the law. The Washington State Office of Equity champions equity and justice for everyone in the state, working to ensure that the civil rights of veterans are protected based on the law. We are committed to promoting policies and laws in Washington state that protect the human rights of veterans based on principles of humanity, justice, and belonging. Below are laws that protect the human and civil rights of veterans. Please visit Policy for more information on federal and state laws that protect human rights and outlaw discrimination.
RCW 2.48.070 Admission of veterans
RCW 2.48.080 Admission of veterans -- Establishment of requirements if in service.
RCW 2.48.090 Admission of veterans -- Establishment of requirements if discharged.
RCW 2.48.100 Admission of veterans -- Effect of disability discharge.
RCW 2.48.110 Admission of veterans -- Fees of veterans.
RCW 26.19.045 Veterans' disability pensions, compensation for disability, and aid and attendant care payments.
RCW 26.19.055 Payments for attendant services in cases of disability.
RCW 28B.15.380 Exemption from payment of fees at state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College -- Veterans and children of certain law enforcement officers or fire fighters.
RCW 28B.15.600 Refunds or cancellation of fees -- Four-year institutions of higher education.
RCW 28B.15.621 Tuition waivers -- Veterans and National Guard members -- Dependents -- Private institutions.
RCW 28B.15.625 Rights of Washington national guard and other military reserve students called to active service.
Chapter 49.60 RCW, Prohibits discrimination in the context of credit, public accommodation, real estate, and — of particular concern for local governments — employment on the basis of race, creed or religion, color, national origin, families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, military status, or the presence of disability. The Washington State Legislature expanded the anti-discrimination law to prohibit racial discrimination on the basis of hair and discrimination on the basis of citizenship status HB 2602.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended, protects employees and job applicants from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Title VII protection covers the full spectrum of employment decisions, including recruitment, selections, terminations, and other decisions concerning terms and conditions of employment.
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)- This law makes it illegal to discriminate against a qualified person with a disability in the private sector and in state and local governments.
Sections 102 and 103 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991- This law amends Title VII and the ADA to permit jury trials and compensatory and punitive damage awards in intentional discrimination cases.
Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973- This law makes it illegal to discriminate against a qualified person with a disability in the federal government. The law also makes it illegal to retaliate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit. The law also requires that employers reasonably accommodate the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant or employee, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer's business.
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)- This law makes it illegal to discriminate against employees or applicants because of genetic information. Genetic information includes information about an individual's genetic tests and the genetic tests of an individual's family members, as well as information about any disease, disorder or condition of an individual's family members (i.e. an individual's family medical history). The law also makes it illegal to retaliate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.
Equal Pay Act of 1963. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 protects men and women from sex-based wage discrimination in the payment of wages or benefits, who perform substantially equal work in the same establishment.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), as amended, protects persons 40 years of age or older from age-based employment discrimination. The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act amends several sections of the ADEA and establishes conditions for a waiver of ADEA protections.
Ignorance allied with power is the most ferocious enemy justice can have. James Baldwin