General Overview of Iowa Civil Rights Commission
Presenter: Mary Cowdrey
Iowa Civil Rights Commission
(515) 281-4463
www.state.ia.us/government/crc
Local Liaison Staff:
Marcia Coverdale, Administrative Assistant
(515) 281-4427
Training Coordinator:
Dawn Peterson, Manager
(515) 281-8086
I. Iowa Civil Rights Commission
A. Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965, as amended
1. Grants Commission power to enforce the Act
2. Grants Commission power to educate the public
B. Prohibitions under the Act
1. Areas = Covered relationships
a. Employment, for employers with 4 or more employees
b. Housing
c. Public Accommodation
d. Education
e. Credit
2. Protected characteristics (“basis”)
a. Age
b. Race
c. Color
d. National Origin
e. Sex (including pregnancy)
f. Mental disability
g. Physical disability
h. Religion
i. Creed
j. Retaliation
for lodging a civil rights/discrimination complaint, participation in civil rights process
k. Sexual orientation
l. Gender Identity
m. Family Status, only in housing
n. marital status, only in credit
C. Statute of Limitations for filing a complaint
1. Iowa Civil Rights Act -- Within 180 days of discrimination with certain exceptions for minors and periods of mental disability.
2. Employment, if within EEOC's jurisdiction -- Up to 300 days
3. Housing, if within HUD's jurisdiction -- Up to 360 days.
D. Training
1. On-site training, variable topics, upon request
2. Video Loaning Library
3. Answer questions and make referrals
II. ICRC's Relationships with other Agencies
A. Agencies
1. Federal
i. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC)
ii. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
iii. Department of Justice (referral only)
2. Local Commissions in the state of Iowa
i. Commissions with investigating staff
ii. Commissions with referring staff
B. Relationships
1. Autonomy
Each Agency (Federal, State, Local) operates under its own legislation or ordinance.
2. Cooperative
a. Dual Filing
If a complaint can be filed under various laws, Agencies assist complainant by crossfiling complaint with other agencies.
i. Timely filing
(e.g. Complaint must reach ICRC office before 180 days have elapsed.)
ii. Respondent covered
(e.g. Employer must have 4 or more employees under ICRA and 15 or more under Federal Civil Rights Act.)
iii. Basis covered
b. Referral
Where an Agency cannot or should not process a complaint that Agency may “refer” the complaint to ICRC for processing.
i. Conflict of interest
A conflict between the public duties and private interests of public officials.
A. Actual conflict of interest
B. Perceived conflict of interest
ii. Lack of resources
iii. Other reasons
c. ICRC acceptance of cooperating Agency’s
results
i. ICRC will accept processing or finding of
referring agency
ii. Providing documents about
closure/processing
d. Assistance
i. Sharing expertise
ii. Sharing resources
iii. Sharing the vision of the state of Iowa without discrimination, bias, stereotype or disrespect.
League Training September 7, 2007
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