2005 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 201 – Persons with disability/discrimintn

HOUSE BILL NO. 201

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H0201................................by JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES - Amends existing law relating to prohibitions
against discriminatory practices to include prohibitions against
discrimination against persons with disabilities; to define additional
terms; to provide for diverse representation among members of the Human
Rights Commission; to provide additional limitations on the application of
this act; and to prohibit reprisals for taking actions pursuant to this
act.
                                                                        
02/14    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/15    Rpt prt - to St Aff

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-eighth Legislature                   First Regular Session - 2005
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 201
                                                                        
                      BY JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO PROHIBITIONS AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY  PRACTICES;  AMENDING  SECTION
  3        67-5901,  IDAHO  CODE,  TO INCLUDE WITHIN PURPOSES OF THE CHAPTER PROHIBI-
  4        TIONS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH  DISABILITIES;  AMENDING
  5        SECTION  67-5902, IDAHO CODE, TO DEFINE ADDITIONAL TERMS AND TO MAKE TECH-
  6        NICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 67-5903, IDAHO CODE, TO  STRIKE  OBSO-
  7        LETE  PROVISIONS,  TO  PROVIDE FOR DIVERSE REPRESENTATION AMONG MEMBERS OF
  8        THE COMMISSION; AMENDING SECTION 67-5909, IDAHO CODE, TO INCLUDE DISCRIMI-
  9        NATION AGAINST A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY IN ACTS PROHIBITED AND  TO  MAKE
 10        TECHNICAL  CORRECTIONS;  AMENDING  SECTION 67-5910, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE
 11        ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON THE APPLICATION OF  THIS  CHAPTER  AND  TO  MAKE
 12        TECHNICAL  CORRECTIONS;  AND AMENDING SECTION 67-5911, IDAHO CODE, TO PRO-
 13        HIBIT REPRISALS FOR TAKING ACTIONS PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER  AND  TO  MAKE
 14        TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
                                                                        
 15    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 16        SECTION  1.  That  Section 67-5901, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 17    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 18        67-5901.  PURPOSE OF ACT CHAPTER. The general purposes of this act chapter
 19    are:
 20        (1)  To provide for execution within the state of the policies embodied in
 21    the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and the  Age  Discrimination
 22    in  Employment  Act of 1967, as amended, and Titles I and III of the Americans
 23    with Disabilities Act.
 24        (2)  To secure for all individuals within the state freedom from discrimi-
 25    nation because of race, color, religion, sex or  gender,  national  origin  or
 26    disability in connection with employment, public accommodations, education and
 27    real  property  transactions, discrimination because of race, color, religion,
 28    gender or national origin in connection with education, discrimination because
 29    of age or disability in connection with employment, and discrimination because
 30    of disability in real property transactions,  and  thereby  to  protect  their
 31    interest  in  personal dignity, to make available to the state their full pro-
 32    ductive capacities, to secure the state against domestic strife and unrest, to
 33    preserve the public safety, health, and general welfare, and  to  promote  the
 34    interests, rights and privileges of individuals within the state.
                                                                        
 35        SECTION  2.  That  Section 67-5902, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 36    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 37        67-5902.  DEFINITIONS. In this act chapter, unless the  context  otherwise
 38    requires:
 39        (1)  "Commission" means the commission on human rights created by this act
 40    chapter;
 41        (2)  "Commissioner" means a member of the commission;
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1        (3)  "Discriminatory  practice" means a practice designated as discrimina-
  2    tory under the terms of this act chapter;
  3        (4)  "National origin" includes the national origin of an ancestor;
  4        (5)  "Person" includes  an  individual,  association,  corporation,  joint
  5    apprenticeship  committee, joint-stock company, labor union, legal representa-
  6    tive, mutual company, partnership, any other legal or commercial  entity,  the
  7    state, or any governmental entity or agency;
  8        (6)  "Employer"  means  a person, wherever situated, who hires five (5) or
  9    more employees for each working day in each of twenty (20)  or  more  calendar
 10    weeks  in the current or preceding calendar year whose services are to be par-
 11    tially or wholly performed in the state of Idaho, except for domestic servants
 12    hired to work in and about the person's household. The term also means:
 13        (a)  aA person who as contractor or subcontractor is  furnishing  material
 14        or performing work for the state;
 15        (b)  aAny agency of or any governmental entity within the state; and
 16        (c)  aAny agent of such employer.
 17        (7)  "Employment  agency"  means  a  person  regularly undertaking with or
 18    without compensation to procure employees for an employer or  to  procure  for
 19    employees  opportunities to work for an employer and includes an agent of such
 20    a person;
 21        (8)  "Labor organization" includes:
 22        (a)  aAn organization of any kind, an agency  or  employee  representation
 23        committee,  group, association, or plan in which employees participate and
 24        which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employ-
 25        ers concerning grievance, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay,  hours,  or
 26        other terms or conditions of employment;
 27        (b)  aA  conference,  general  committee,  joint or system board, or joint
 28        council which is subordinate to a national or international labor  organi-
 29        zation; or
 30        (c)  aAn agent of a labor organization.
 31        (9)  "Place  of  public  accommodation"  means  a business, accommodation,
 32    refreshment, entertainment, recreation,  or  transportation  facility  of  any
 33    kind,  whether licensed or not, whose goods, services, facilities, privileges,
 34    advantages or accommodations are extended, offered, sold,  or  otherwise  made
 35    available to the public;
 36        (10) "Educational  institution"  means a public or private institution and
 37    includes an  academy,  college,  elementary  or  secondary  school,  extension
 38    course,  kindergarten,  nursery,  school system, or university and a business,
 39    nursing,  professional,  secretarial,  technical,  or  vocational  school  and
 40    includes an agent of an educational institution;
 41        (11) "Real property" includes buildings, structures, real  estate,  lands,
 42    tenements,  leaseholds,  interests  in real estate cooperatives, condominiums,
 43    and hereditaments, corporeal and incorporeal or any interest therein;
 44        (12) "Real estate transaction" includes  the  sale,  exchange,  rental  or
 45    lease of real property;
 46        (13) "Housing  accommodation"  includes  any  improved  or unimproved real
 47    property, or part thereof, which is used or occupied, or as the home or  resi-
 48    dence of one (1) or more individuals;
 49        (14) "Real  estate broker or salesman" means a person, whether licensed or
 50    not, who, for or with the expectation of  receiving  a  consideration,  lists,
 51    sells, purchases, exchanges, rents, or leases real property, or who negotiates
 52    or  attempts to negotiate any of these activities, or who holds himself out as
 53    engaged in these activities, or who negotiates or attempts to negotiate a loan
 54    secured or to be secured by mortgage or other encumbrance upon real  property,
 55    or  who  is engaged in the business of listing real property in a publication;
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1    or a person employed by or acting on behalf of any of these;
  2        (15) "Disability" means a  physical  or  mental  condition  of  a  person,
  3    whether  congenital or acquired, which constitutes a substantial limitation to
  4    that person and is demonstrable by medically accepted clinical  or  laboratory
  5    diagnostic  techniques.   A person with a disability is one who (a) has such a
  6    disability, or (b) has a record of such a disability, or (c)  is  regarded  as
  7    having such a disability;
  8        (16) "Reasonable  accommodation"  means  an  adjustment which does not (a)
  9    unduly disrupt  or  interfere  with  the  employer's  normal  operations,  (b)
 10    threaten the health or safety of the person with the disability or others, (c)
 11    contradict  a business necessity of the employer, or (d) impose undue hardship
 12    on the employer based on the size of the  employer's  business,  the  type  of
 13    business,  the  financial  resources, and the estimated cost and extent of the
 14    adjustment;
 15        (17) "Readily achievable" means easily accomplishable and able to be  car-
 16    ried  out without much difficulty or expense. In determining whether an action
 17    is readily achievable, factors to be considered include  (a)  the  nature  and
 18    cost  of  the  action  needed  under  this chapter, (b)  the overall financial
 19    resources of the facility or facilities involved in the action, the number  of
 20    persons employed at the facility, the effect on expenses and resources, or the
 21    impact  otherwise  of  the action upon the operation of the facility, (c)  the
 22    overall financial resources of the covered entity, the  overall  size  of  the
 23    business  of a covered entity with respect to the number of its employees, the
 24    number, type, and location of its facilities, and (d)  the type  of  operation
 25    or operations of the covered entity, including the composition, structure, and
 26    functions  of the workforce of the entity, the geographic separateness, admin-
 27    istrative or fiscal relationship of the facility or facilities in question  to
 28    the covered entity.
                                                                        
 29        SECTION  3.  That  Section 67-5903, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 30    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 31        67-5903.  CREATION OF COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS --  MEMBERS  --  APPOINT-
 32    MENT.  There is hereby created in the office of the governor the Idaho commis-
 33    sion on human rights to consist of nine (9) members,  all  of  whom  shall  be
 34    appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, each for
 35    a  term  of  three  (3)  years. In making the first appointments, the governor
 36    shall specify the term of each member, so that the terms of three (3)  members
 37    expire  each  year.  The  terms of office of members of the commission holding
 38    office prior to July 1, 1974, shall terminate on  July  1,  1974,  and  within
 39    thirty (30) days thereafter the governor shall appoint the members of the com-
 40    mission who shall serve staggered terms as provided by this section.
 41        On  and after July 1, 1976, the governor shall appoint members of the com-
 42    mission as terms of existing members expire so that tThe commission  shall  be
 43    comprised  as follows: one (1) member shall be representative of industry; one
 44    (1) member shall be representative of labor; and seven (7)  members  shall  be
 45    appointed at large. Members shall be appointed to obtain, to the extent possi-
 46    ble,  broad  representation  of  the diversity of individuals who comprise the
 47    population of the state of Idaho.
                                                                        
 48        SECTION 4.  That Section 67-5909, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 49    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 50        67-5909.  ACTS  PROHIBITED.  It  shall be a prohibited act to discriminate
 51    against a person because of, or on a basis of, race, color, religion, sex gen-
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1    der or national origin, in any of the following and subsections. It shall be a
  2    prohibited act to discriminate against a person because of or on the basis  of
  3    age  or  disability  in  subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this section. It
  4    shall be a prohibited act to discriminate against a person because of,  or  on
  5    the basis of, disability in subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this section,
  6    provided  that  the  prohibition  against discrimination because of disability
  7    shall not apply if the particular disability, even with a reasonable  accommo-
  8    dation,  by the employer, prevents the performance of the work required by the
  9    employer in that job in subsections (6), (8), (9), (10) and (11) of this  sec-
 10    tion.  The  prohibition  to discriminate shall also apply to persons with dis-
 11    abilities in real property transactions in subsections (7), (8), (9) and  (10)
 12    of this section, and to those individuals without disabilities who are associ-
 13    ated with a person with a disability.
 14        (1)  For an employer to fail or refuse to hire, to discharge, or to other-
 15    wise  discriminate  against  an individual with respect to compensation or the
 16    terms, conditions or privileges of employment or to reduce  the  wage  of  any
 17    employee in order to comply with this act chapter;
 18        (2)  For  an  employment agency to fail or refuse to refer for employment,
 19    or otherwise to discriminate against an individual or to classify or refer  an
 20    individual for employment;
 21        (3)  For a labor organization;:
 22        (a)  tTo exclude or to expel from membership, or to otherwise discriminate
 23        against, a member or applicant for membership,
 24        (b)  tTo  limit, segregate or classify membership, or to fail or refuse to
 25        refer for employment an individual in any way,
 26             1.  wWhich would deprive an individual of  employment  opportunities,
 27             or
 28             2.  wWhich  would  limit employment opportunities or adversely affect
 29             the status of an employee or of an applicant for employment, or
 30        (c)  tTo cause or attempt  to  cause  an  employer  to  violate  this  act
 31        chapter.
 32        (4)  For  an  employer labor organization or employment agency to print or
 33    publish or cause to be printed or published a notice or advertisement relating
 34    to employment by the employer or membership in or a classification or referral
 35    for employment by the labor organization, or relating to a  classification  or
 36    referral for employment by an employment agency, indicating a preference, lim-
 37    itation,  specification  or  discrimination; but a notice or advertisement may
 38    indicate a preference limitation, specification, or discrimination  when  such
 39    is a bona fide occupational qualification for employment;
 40        (5)  For a person;:
 41        (a)  tTo  deny  an  individual  the full and equal enjoyment of the goods,
 42        services, facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations of a place
 43        of public accommodation, or
 44        (b)  tTo print, circulate, post, or mail or otherwise  cause  to  be  pub-
 45        lished  a  statement,  advertisement or sign which indicates that the full
 46        and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advan-
 47        tages of a place of public accommodation will be refused,  withheld  from,
 48        or  denied  an individual or that an individual's patronage of or presence
 49        at a place of public accommodation is objectionable, unwelcome,  unaccept-
 50        able, or undesirable.
 51        (6)  For  a person who owns, leases or operates a place of public accommo-
 52    dation:
 53        (a)  To deny an individual on the basis of disability the full  and  equal
 54        enjoyment  of  the  goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or
 55        accommodations of a place of public accommodation;
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1        (b)  To impose or apply eligibility criteria that screen out  or  tend  to
  2        screen  out  an  individual  with a disability or any class of individuals
  3        with disabilities from fully and equally  enjoying  any  goods,  services,
  4        facilities,  privileges, advantages or accommodations of a place of public
  5        accommodation, unless such criteria can be shown to be necessary  for  the
  6        provision  of  the  goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or
  7        accommodations being offered;
  8        (c)  To fail to make reasonable  modifications in policies, practices,  or
  9        procedures  when  such  modifications  are necessary to afford such goods,
 10        services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations  to  indi-
 11        viduals  with  disabilities, unless the entity can demonstrate that making
 12        such modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of such goods;
 13        (d)  To fail to take such steps as may be  necessary  to  ensure  that  no
 14        individual  with  a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or
 15        otherwise treated  differently  than  other  individuals  because  of  the
 16        absence  of auxiliary aids and services, unless the entity can demonstrate
 17        that taking such steps would fundamentally alter the nature of the  goods,
 18        services,  facilities,  privileges,  advantages,  or  accommodations being
 19        offered or would result in an undue burden;
 20        (e)  To fail to remove architectural barriers and  communication  barriers
 21        that  are  structural in nature, in existing facilities and transportation
 22        barriers in existing vehicles used by an  establishment  for  transporting
 23        individuals  (not  including  barriers  that  can  only be removed through
 24        retrofitting of vehicles), where such removal is readily achievable; or
 25        (f)  Where an entity can demonstrate that the removal of a  barrier  under
 26        paragraph  (e)  of  this  subsection is not readily achievable, to fail to
 27        make such goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or  accommo-
 28        dations  available through alternative methods if such methods are readily
 29        achievable.
 30        (7)  For an educational institution;:
 31        (a)  tTo exclude, expel, limit, or otherwise discriminate against an indi-
 32        vidual seeking admission as a student or an individual enrolled as a  stu-
 33        dent in the terms, conditions, and privileges of the institution, or
 34        (b)  tTo  make or use a written or oral inquiry or form of application for
 35        admission that elicits or attempts to elicit information, or  to  make  or
 36        keep  a  record, of an applicant for admission, except as permitted by the
 37        regulations of the commission,
 38        (c)  tTo print or publish or cause to be printed or published a  catalogue
 39        or  other  notice  or  advertisement  indicating a preference, limitation,
 40        specification, discrimination of an applicant for admission, or
 41        (d)  tTo announce or follow a policy of denial  or  limitation  through  a
 42        quota or otherwise of educational opportunities of a group or its members.
 43        (78)  For  an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transac-
 44    tion, or for a real estate broker or salesman;:
 45        (a)  tTo refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with a person,
 46        (b)  tTo discriminate against a person in the terms, conditions or  privi-
 47        leges  of  a real estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or
 48        services in connection therewith,
 49        (c)  tTo refuse to receive or to fail to transmit a  bona  fide  offer  to
 50        engage in a real estate transaction from a person,
 51        (d)  tTo refuse to negotiate a real estate transaction with a person,
 52        (e)  tTo  represent  to  a  person that real property is not available for
 53        inspection, sale, rental, or lease when in fact it is so available, or  to
 54        fail  to bring a property listing to his attention, or to refuse to permit
 55        him to inspect real property,
                                                                        
                                           6
                                                                        
  1        (f)  tTo print, circulate, post or mail or cause  to  be  so  published  a
  2        statement,  advertisement  or  sign, or to use a form of application for a
  3        real estate transaction,  or to make a record  or  inquiry  in  connection
  4        with  a  prospective real estate transaction, which indicates, directly or
  5        indirectly, an intent to make a limitation, specification, or  discrimina-
  6        tion with respect thereto,
  7        (g)  tTo  offer, solicit, accept, use or retain a listing of real property
  8        with the understanding that a person may be  discriminated  against  in  a
  9        real  estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in
 10        connection therewith, or
 11        (h)  tTo refuse to permit, at the expense of a person with  a  disability,
 12        reasonable  modifications  of existing premises occupied or to be occupied
 13        by such person if the modifications may be necessary to afford such person
 14        full enjoyment of the premises. Provided, that, in the case of  a  rental,
 15        the  landlord  may,  where it is reasonable to do so, condition permission
 16        for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the  interior,  exte-
 17        rior,  or  both, of the premises, to the condition that existed before the
 18        modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted. The provision for restor-
 19        ation shall be included in any lease or rental agreement.
 20        (89)  For a person to whom application is made for financial assistance in
 21    connection with a real estate transaction or for the construction, rehabilita-
 22    tion, repair, maintenance, or improvement of real property, or  a  representa-
 23    tive of such a person;:
 24        (a)  tTo discriminate against the applicant,
 25        (b)  tTo  use a form of application for financial assistance or to make or
 26        keep a record or inquiry in connection  with  applications  for  financial
 27        assistance  which  indicates  directly  or indirectly, an intent to make a
 28        limitation, specification, or discrimination.
 29        (910) To insert in a written instrument relating to real property a provi-
 30    sion which purports to forbid or restrict the conveyance,  encumbrance,  occu-
 31    pancy or lease thereof;
 32        (101) For  a  person for the purpose of inducing a real estate transaction
 33    from which he may benefit financially;:
 34        (a)  tTo represent that a change has occurred or will or may occur in  the
 35        composition of the owners or occupants in the block, neighborhood, or area
 36        in which the real property is located, or
 37        (b)  tTo  represent that this change will or may result in the lowering of
 38        property values, an increase in criminal or anti-social antisocial  behav-
 39        ior, or a decline in the quality of schools in the block, neighborhood, or
 40        area in which the real property is located.
                                                                        
 41        SECTION  5.  That  Section 67-5910, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 42    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 43        67-5910.  LIMITATIONS. (1) This act chapter does not apply to a  religious
 44    corporation,  association,  or society with respect to the employment of indi-
 45    viduals of a particular religion to perform work connected with  the  carrying
 46    on by the corporation, association, or society of its religious activities.
 47        (2)  It is not a discriminatory practice;:
 48        (a)  fFor  an  employer  to employ an employee, or an employment agency to
 49        classify or refer for employment an individual, for a  labor  organization
 50        to classify its membership or to classify or refer for employment an indi-
 51        vidual,  or for an employer, labor organization, or joint labor-management
 52        committee controlling an apprenticeship or other  training  or  retraining
 53        program,  on  the  basis of his religion, sex gender,  national origin, or
                                                                        
                                           7
                                                                        
  1        age if religion, sex gender, national origin, or age is a bona fide  occu-
  2        pational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the
  3        business or enterprise, or
  4        (b)  fFor an employer, employment agency, or labor organization to observe
  5        the  terms of a bona fide seniority system or any bona fide employee bene-
  6        fit plan such as a retirement, pension, or insurance plan, which is not  a
  7        subterfuge  to evade the purposes of this act chapter, except that no such
  8        employee benefit plan shall excuse the failure to hire any individual, and
  9        no such seniority system or employee benefit plan shall require or  permit
 10        involuntary  retirement  of any individual specified in subsection (79) of
 11        this section because of the age of such individual; however, the  prohibi-
 12        tion against age discrimination contained in this act chapter shall not be
 13        construed  to prohibit compulsory retirement if such retirement is permit-
 14        ted under the terms of 29 U.S.C., section 631(c)(1) and (2), or
 15        (c)  fFor a religious educational institution or an educational  organiza-
 16        tion  to  limit employment or give preference to members of the same reli-
 17        gion, or
 18        (d)  fFor an employer, employment agency, or labor  organization  to  dis-
 19        criminate  against  a  person  with  a disability which, under the circum-
 20        stances, poses a serious direct threat to the health or safety of the per-
 21        son with a disability or others.  The burden of proving  this  defense  is
 22        upon the employer, labor organization, or employment agency.
 23        (3)  Nothing  in  this  chapter shall require a person who owns, leases or
 24    operates a place of public accommodation, to permit an individual with a  dis-
 25    ability  to  participate  in  or benefit from the goods, services, facilities,
 26    privileges, advantages and accommodations of such place of  public  accommoda-
 27    tion,  where  such individual poses a direct threat to the health or safety of
 28    others. The burden of proving this defense is upon the person who owns, leases
 29    or operates a place of public accommodation.
 30        (4)  This act chapter does not apply to a private club,  or  other  estab-
 31    lishment  not in fact open to the public, except to the extent that the goods,
 32    services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations of  the  estab-
 33    lishment  are made available to the customers or patrons of another establish-
 34    ment that is a place of public accommodation.
 35        (5)  The provisions of section 67-5909(6), Idaho Code, do not apply to:
 36        (a)  Any agency of or any governmental entity within the state; or
 37        (b)  Religious organizations or entities controlled by religious organiza-
 38        tions, including places of worship.
 39        (46)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this act chapter, it is  not
 40    a discriminatory practice for;:
 41        (a)  aA  religious  educational  institution or an educational institution
 42        operated, supervised, or controlled by a religious institution  (operated,
 43        supervised,  or  controlled by a religious institution) or organization to
 44        limit admission or give preference to applicants of the same religion, or
 45        (b)  aAn educational institution to accept and administer an  inter  vivos
 46        or  testamentary  gift  upon  the  terms  and conditions prescribed by the
 47        donor.
 48        (57)  The provisions of section 67-5909(78), Idaho Code, do not apply;:
 49        (a)  tTo the rental of a housing accommodation in a  building  which  con-
 50        tains  housing  accommodations  for  not more than two (2) families living
 51        independently of each other, if the lessor  or  a  member  of  his  family
 52        resides in one (1) of the housing accommodations, or
 53        (b)  tTo  the  rental  of a room or rooms in a housing accommodation by an
 54        individual if he or a member of his family resides therein.
 55        (68)  It is not a discriminatory practice for a religious  institution  or
                                                                        
                                           8
                                                                        
  1    organization  or a charitable or educational organization operated, supervised
  2    or controlled by a religious institution or organization to give preference to
  3    members of the same religion in a real property transaction.
  4        (79)  The prohibitions against discrimination based on  age  contained  in
  5    this  act  chapter shall be limited to individuals who are at least forty (40)
  6    years of age.
                                                                        
  7        SECTION 6.  That Section 67-5911, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
  8    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  9        67-5911.  REPRISALS  FOR OPPOSING UNLAWFUL PRACTICES. It shall be unlawful
 10    for an employer, employment agency, or labor  organization  a  person  or  any
 11    business  entity subject to regulation by this chapter to discriminate against
 12    any individual because he or she has opposed any  practice  made  unlawful  by
 13    this  act  chapter  or  because  such individual has made a charge, testified,
 14    assisted, or participated in any manner in an  investigation,  proceeding,  or
 15    litigation under this act chapter.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                            RS 14792C1

A task force, spearheaded by the Idaho State Independent Living Council
(SILC)and the Idaho Task Force on the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), with members drawn from disability organizations, the state
legislature, state government, city and county representatives,
businesses, employers, and the Governor's office, has worked on
developing this legislation over the past year and a half.  The
legislation would do the following:

Strengthen the Human Rights Act by adding disability to the current
prohibitions of discrimination in connection with public accommodations
(private businesses).

Provide a user friendly, one-stop destination for businesses and people
with disabilities to easily access mediation and/or enforcement on a
local level, through the Human Rights Commission.

Allow better access to persons with disabilities while recognizing the
legitimate needs of Idaho's private businesses.

Define "readily achievable" as something that a private business can do
without much difficulty or expense.

The proposed changes add to state law those obligations already
applicable to private businesses under federal law.  Government entities
are not affected by the changes regarding places of public accommodation.



                           FISCAL NOTE

The fiscal impact will be $20,000 per year.  This figure was calculated
based on average statistics provided to the Idaho Human Rights Commission
by Washington, Alaska and Oregon.


                                                            


Contact
Name:  Kelly Buckland 
Phone: 208-334-3800




STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                           H 201