Equality and justice for all is the law.
Washington State
RCW 1.16.50 "Legal holidays" and "legislatively recognized days"
RCW 9A.36.078 Hate crimes offenses Finding
Chapter 28A.642 RCW Discrimination Prohibition (OSPI)
Chapter 28A.640 RCW Sexual Equality (OSPI)
Chapter 39.19 RCW Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises
Chapter 39.04 RCW Public Works
RCW 39.04.155 Small Works Roster contract procedures -Limited public works process (Excellent starting place for small, diverse businesses)
RCW 39.10.420 Job Order Contracting (JOC) 90% of the contracts have to be contracted out with strong encouragement for use of minority owned businesses.
Chapter 39.26 RCW Procurement of Goods.
RCW 41.04.750 Supported employment-Definitions
RCW 43.19.725 Small businesses—Increased registration in enterprise vendor registration and bid notification system—Increased contracts and purchasing—Model plan—Technical assistance—Recordkeeping.
RCW 43.19.727 Small businesses—Effects of technical assistance—Reports—Web-based information system
RCW 43.60A.190 Certified veteran-owned business.
RCW 43.330.532 Broadband office—Established—Purpose
Chapter 43.117 RCW State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs
Chapter 43.06D RCW Office of Equity
Chapter 43.115 RCW State Commission on Hispanic Affairs
Chapter 49.58 RCW Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act
Chapter 43.113 RCW Commission on African American Affairs
Chapter 43.114 RCW LGBTQ Commission
Chapter 43.119 RCW Women’s Commission
RCW 43.20A.685 State Council on Aging
RCW 43.20.270 Governor’s interagency coordinating council on health disparities
RCW 74.31.020 Washington traumatic brain injury strategic partnership advisory council
Chapter 43.155 RCW Public Works Projects
Chapter 49.60 RCW, Discrimination—Human Rights Commission
RCW 43.01.100 Application forms—Licenses—Mention of race or religion prohibited—Penalty
RCW 9.91.010 Denial of civil rights
RCW 9.91.170. Dog guide or service animal, interfering with
Chapter 28B.110 RCW Gender equality in higher education
RCW 70.84.080. Individuals with disabilities, discrimination in public employment prohibited
RCW 28A.600.200 Interschool athletic and other extracurricular activities for students, discrimination prohibited
RCW 9A.36.080 Malicious harassment because of a person's race, color, religion, ancestry, or national origin—Criminal penalty—Civil cause of action
RCW 38.40.110 Militia, organized, discrimination prohibited
Chapter 28A.640 RCW Sexual equality mandated for public schools
RCW 35.80.040 Unfit buildings, discrimination prohibited
Federal
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA) - This law makes it illegal to pay different wages to men and women if they perform equal work in the same workplace. 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.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) - This law makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. 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 applicants' and employees' sincerely held religious practices, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer's business.
- Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - Authorizes the Attorney General to address certain equal protection violations based on religion, among other bases, in public schools and institutions of higher education.
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) - This law addresses the barrier that language may present for limited English proficiency (LEP) individuals. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, et seq. and its implementing regulations provide that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin under any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. Language for LEP individuals can be a barrier to accessing important benefits or services, understanding and exercising important rights, complying with applicable responsibilities, or understanding other information provided by federally funded programs and activities.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) - This law protects people who are 40 or older from discrimination because of age. 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.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 – No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
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.
Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 - The new law addressed civil rights issues in education, barring states from discriminating against students based on gender, race, color, or nationality and requiring public schools to provide for students who do not speak English.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (1978) - This law amended Title VII to make it illegal to discriminate against a woman because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth. 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.
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. 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.
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 - No individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, program, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity
- Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 - Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public accommodations, such as schools, operated by private entities.
Sections 102 and 103 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 - Among other things, this law amends Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act to permit jury trials and compensatory and punitive damage awards in intentional discrimination cases.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, (USERRA-1994) - This law protects civilian job rights and benefits for veterans and members of the active and Reserve components of the U.S. military. It also provides that returning service-members must be promptly reemployed in the same position that they would have attained had they not been absent for military service.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004)- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that all children with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living. IDEA was previously known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act from 1975 to 1990.
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) - This law makes it is illegal to discriminate against employees or applicants because of genetic information. Title II of GINA prohibits the use of genetic information in making employment decisions, restricts employers and other entities covered by Title II (employment agencies, labor organizations and joint labor-management training and apprenticeship programs - referred to as "covered entities") from requesting, requiring or purchasing genetic information, and strictly limits the disclosure of genetic information.
Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 - A statute to clarify the disclosures of information protected from prohibited personnel practices. It also requires a statement in nondisclosure policies, forms and agreements so that they conform with disclosure protections.
Mobile Now Act (2018) – Boosts the development of next-generation gigabit wireless broadband services, including 5G, by ensuring more spectrum is identified for private sector use and by reducing the red tape associated with building broadband networks
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Section 1557 (Non-discrimination section) - This law makes it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability under “any health program or activity, any part of which is receiving Federal financial assistance … or under any program or activity that is administered by an Executive agency or any entity established under [Title I of ACA]….”
Juneteenth National Independence Day Act – A 2021 law establishing June 19th – “Juneteenth” - as a federal holiday to memorialize and commemorate the end of slavery in the United States of America.