Human Rights Commission of Austin (Texas)

The Austin City Council has authorized the Commission to enforce certain laws that protect individuals from difference in treatment in their employment because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 years or older), disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Those laws are Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,[5] the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967,[6] the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,[7] Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code,[8] and the city's employment ordinance (#750710-A).[9] There are very important deadlines associated with the processing of employment discrimination complaints that can be found at the employment ordinance website.[10]

The Austin City Council also has authorized the Commission to enforce the city's ordinance that prohibits employment discrimination by city contractors.[11] This ordinance applies to any person who submits a bid or proposal to provide labor, goods, or services to the city by contract for profit. The ordinance also applies to any person who provides labor, goods, or services to the city by contract for profit. A subcontractor under such a contract is also covered by the ordinance. A person or subcontractor covered by the ordinance may not engage in a discriminatory employment practice. That means discrimination against an individual because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, sex, or age, unless sex or age is a bona fide occupational qualification of employment.

The Austin City Council has authorized the Commission to enforce the City of Austin's housing ordinance (#940210-A),[12] which operates in conjunction with the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968[13] and the Texas Fair Housing Act.[14] Those laws protect individuals against discrimination concerning the terms and conditions, rental, leasing, buying, or selling of housing based on their race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, student status, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age (18 years or older). Important information about the ordinance can be found at the fair housing ordinance website.[15]

The Austin City Council has authorized the Commission to enforce the City of Austin's public accommodations ordinance (#800522-I),[16] which makes it unlawful for any public accommodation to deny access to goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations to anyone based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age (18 years or older), or disability. Virtually all businesses are covered by this ordinance.

The Austin City Council has authorized the Commission to enforce the City of Austin's HIV/AIDS ordinance (#861211-V),[17] which was adopted in 1986. The ordinance protects individuals who have AIDS, who are infected with HIV, who are perceived to have AIDS or be infected with HIV, or who are perceived to be a risk for any of these conditions. Also protected are individuals who associate with the individuals described above. Those individuals are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, city facilities and services, and public accommodations, including business establishments.

The Austin City Council has authorized the Commission to enforce the City of Austin's general ordinance that protects people living with disabilities from discrimination.[18] The ordinance reflects the city's policy that no qualified person living with a disability may, on the basis of the disability, be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity operated by or contracted for by the city. This ordinance applies to both the city and its contractors.