Seattle City Council Bills and Ordinances
Information modified on February 2, 2011; retrieved on March 19, 2024 3:04 AM
Ordinance 123527
Introduced as Council Bill 117053
Title | |
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AN ORDINANCE related to the Enforcement of Civil Rights, amending Sections 14.04, 14.06, 14.08, and 14.10 of the Seattle Municipal Code to be consistent with Federal and State anti-discrimination law. |
Description and Background | |
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Current Status: | Passed |
Fiscal Note: | Fiscal Note to Council Bill No. 117053 |
Legislative History | |
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Sponsor: | HARRELL | tr>
Date Introduced: | November 22, 2010 |
Committee Referral: | Energy, Technology, and Civil Rights |
City Council Action Date: | January 24, 2011 |
City Council Action: | Passed |
City Council Vote: | 8-0 (excused: Conlin) |
Date Delivered to Mayor: | January 25, 2011 |
Date Signed by Mayor: (About the signature date) | January 28, 2011 |
Date Filed with Clerk: | January 28, 2011 |
Signed Copy: | PDF scan of Ordinance No. 123527 |
Text | |
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ORDINANCE _________________ AN ORDINANCE related to the Enforcement of Civil Rights, amending Sections 14.04, 14.06, 14.08, and 14.10 of the Seattle Municipal Code to be consistent with Federal and State anti-discrimination law. WHEREAS the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Housing and Urban (HUD) and the Washington State Human Rights Commission (HRC) have passed recent legislation to expand civil rights protections for residents; and WHEREAS The City of Seattle Office of Civil Rights is at the forefront of civil rights protections; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Subsection A of Section 14.04.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 14.04.020 Declaration of policy. A. It is declared to be the policy of the City, in the exercise of its police powers for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare, and for the maintenance of peace and good government, to assure equal opportunity to all persons, free from restrictions because of race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability. The role of the Office for Civil Rights is to enforce the provisions of this chapter in furtherance of this policy. Section 2. Section 14.04.030 of the Seattle Municipal Code, which section was last amended by Ordinance 112908, is hereby amended as follows: 14.04.030 Definitions. When used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: A. "Charging party" means the person aggrieved by an alleged unfair employment practice or the person making a charge on another person's behalf, or the Director when the Director files a charge. B. "City department" means any agency, office, board or commission of the City, or any Department employee acting on its behalf, but shall not mean a public corporation chartered under Ordinance 1033871, or its successor ordinances, or any contractor, consultant, concessionaire or lessee. C. "Commission" means the Seattle Human Rights Commission. D. "Department" means the Office for Civil Rights of the City. E. "Director" means the Director of the Office for Civil Rights. F. "Disabled" means a person who has a disability. G. 1. "Disability" means the presence of a sensory, mental, or physical impairment that: a. Is medically cognizable or diagnosable; or b. Exists as a record or history; or c. Is perceived to exist whether or not it exists in fact. 2. A disability exists whether it is temporary or permanent, common or uncommon, mitigated or unmitigated, or whether or not it limits the ability to work generally or work at a particular job or whether or not it limits any other activity within the scope of this chapter. 3. For purposes of this definition, "impairment" includes, but is not limited to: a. Any physiological disorder, or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory, including speech organs, cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitorurinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine; or b. Any mental, developmental, traumatic, or psychological disorder, including but not limited to cognitive limitation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities. 4. Only for the purposes of qualifying for reasonable accommodation in employment, an impairment must be known or shown through an interactive process to exist in fact and: a. The impairment must have a substantially limiting effect upon the individual's ability to perform his or her job, the individual's ability to apply or be considered for a job, or the individual's access to equal benefits, privileges, or terms or conditions of employment; or b. The employee must have put the employer on notice of the existence of an impairment, and medical documentation must establish a reasonable likelihood that engaging in job functions without an accommodation would aggravate the impairment to the extent that it would create a substantially limiting effect. 5. For purposes of (4) of this subsection, a limitation is not substantial if it has only a trivial effect. H. "Genetic Information" means any information regarding inherited characteristics that can be derived from a DNA-based or other laboratory test, family history, or medical examination. "Genetic information" for purposes of this chapter, does not include: (1) Routine physical measurements, including chemical, blood, and urine analysis, unless conducted purposefully to diagnose genetic or inherited characteristics; and (2) results from tests for abuse of alcohol or drugs.
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(( S. The term "reasonable accommodation" may include: 1. Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; and 2. Job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position, acquisition or modification of equipment or devices, appropriate adjustment or modifications of examinations, training materials or policies, the provision of qualified readers or interpreters, and other similar accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
(( U. The terms "because of sex," "on the basis of sex," or "by reason of sex" include, but are not limited to, because of or on the basis of or by reason of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and women affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions shall be treated the same for all employment-related purposes, including receipt of benefits under fringe benefit programs, as other persons not so affected but similar in their ability or inability to work, and nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to permit otherwise.
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(( X. "Service animal" means an animal that provides medically necessary support for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Section 3. Subsection C of Section 14.04.040 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 14.04.040 Unfair employment practices designated. * * * C. Employer, employment agency, or labor organization to print, circulate, or cause to be printed, published or circulated, any statement, advertisement, or publication relating to employment or membership, or to use any form of application therefore, which indicates any preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based upon race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical handicap; provided that, nothing in this chapter shall prevent an employer from ascertaining and recording data as to race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical handicap whether before or after employment, for the purpose of making reports specifically required by agencies of federal, state or local government for the purpose of eliminating and preventing discrimination or overcoming its effects, or for other purposes authorized by law or the rules and regulations of Washington State Human Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the Department; * * * Section 4. Section 14.04.090 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 14.04.090 Charge -Time for filing
A. Charges filed under this chapter must be filed within (( B. For purposes of this chapter, an unfair employment practice occurs, with respect to discrimination in compensation in violation of this chapter, when a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice is adopted, when an individual becomes subject to a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice, or when an individual is affected by application of a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice, including each time wages, benefits, or other compensation is paid, resulting in whole or in part from such a decision or other practice. In addition to any relief authorized by this chapter, liability may accrue and an aggrieved person may obtain relief as provided in this chapter, including recovery of back pay for up to two years preceding the filing of the charge, where the unlawful employment practices that have occurred during the charge filing period are similar or related to unlawful employment practices with regard to discrimination in compensation that occurred outside the time for filing a charge. Section 5. Section 14.06.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 14.06.20 Definitions. Definitions as used in this chapter, unless additional meaning clearly appears from the context, shall have the meanings subscribed: A. "Aggrieved person" includes any person who: 1. Claims to have been injured by an unfair practice prohibited by this chapter; or 2. Believes that he or she will be injured by an unfair practice prohibited by this chapter that is about to occur. B. "Charge" means a claim or set of claims alleging an unfair practice or practices prohibited under this chapter. C. "Charging party" means any person who files a charge alleging an unfair practice under this chapter, including the Director. D. "City" means The City of Seattle. E. "City department" means any agency, office, board or commission of the City, or any department employee acting on its behalf, but shall not mean a public corporation chartered under Ch. 3.110 SMC, or any contractor, consultant, or concessionaire or lessee. F. "Commission" means the Seattle Human Rights Commission. G. "Department" means the Seattle Office for Civil Rights. H. "Director" means the Director of the Seattle Office for Civil Rights or the Director's designee.
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I. "Disabled" means a person who has a disability. J. 1. "Disability" means the presence of a sensory, mental, or physical impairment that: a. Is medically cognizable or diagnosable; or b. Exists as a record or history; or c. Is perceived to exist whether or not it exists in fact. 2. A disability exists whether it is temporary or permanent, common or uncommon, mitigated or unmitigated, or whether or not it limits the ability to work generally or work at a particular job or whether or not it limits any other activity within the scope of this chapter. 3. For purposes of this definition, "impairment" includes, but is not limited to: a. Any physiological disorder, or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory, including speech organs, cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitor-urinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine; or b. Any mental, developmental, traumatic, or psychological disorder, including but not limited to cognitive limitation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities. K. "Discriminate" means to do any act which constitutes discrimination.
L. "Discrimination" means any conduct, whether by single act or as part of a practice, the effect of which is to adversely affect or differentiate between or among individuals or groups of individuals, because of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry,
national origin, age, sex, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, honorably discharged veteran or military status, participation in a Section 8 program, the presence of any disability or the use of a
(( M. "Full enjoyment of" means the right to purchase any service, commodity, or article of personal property offered or sold on, or by, any establishment to the public, and the admission of any person to accommodations, advantages, facilities, or privileges of any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement, free of discrimination as defined in this chapter. N. "Gender identity" means a person's identity, expression, or physical characteristics, whether or not traditionally associated with one's biological sex or one's sex at birth, including transsexual, transvestite, and transgendered, and including a person's attitudes, preferences, beliefs, and practices pertaining thereto. O. "Hearing Examiner" means the Seattle Hearing Examiner. P. "Marital status" means the presence or absence of a marital relationship and includes the status of married, separated, divorced, engaged, widowed, single or cohabiting. Q. "Owner" means any person who owns, leases, subleases, rents, operates, manages, has charge of, controls or has the right of ownership, possession, management, charge, or control of real property on their own behalf or on behalf of another.
R. "Parental status" means being a parent, step-parent, adoptive parent, guardian, foster parent or custodian of a minor child or children under the age of (( S. "Party" means the person charging or making a charge or complaint or upon whose behalf a complaint is made alleging an unfair practice, the person alleged or found to have committed an unfair practice, and the Seattle Office for Civil Rights.
T. "Person" means one (( U. "Place of public accommodation" means any place, licensed or unlicensed, where the public gathers, congregates, or assembles for amusement, recreation or public purposes, or any place, store, or other establishment which supplies goods or services with or without charge to the general public. "Place of public accommodation" includes, but is not limited to, the following types of services or facilities: hotels, or other establishments which provide lodging to transient guests; restaurants, cafeterias, lunchrooms, lunch counters, soda fountains, public washrooms, public elevators, or other facilities principally engaged in selling or offering for sale food for consumption upon or off the premises; motion picture houses, theatres, concert halls, sport arenas, stadiums or other places of exhibition or entertainment; bowling alleys, pool halls, arcades and amusement parks; retail establishments; transportation carriers; barber shops and beauty shops; bars or taverns or other facilities engaged in selling or offering for sale alcoholic beverages for consumption upon the premises; and public burial facilities. V. "Political ideology" means any idea or belief, or coordinated body of ideas or beliefs, relating to the purpose, conduct, organization, function or basis of government and related institutions and activities, whether or not characteristic of any political party or group. This term includes membership in a political party or group and includes conduct, reasonably related to political ideology, which does not cause substantial and material disruption of the property rights of the provider of a place of public accommodation. W. "Respondent" means any person who is alleged or found to have committed an unfair practice prohibited by this chapter. X. "Service animal" means an animal that provides medically necessary support for the benefit of an individual with a disability.
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(( Section 6. Section 14.08.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 14.08.020 Definitions. Definitions as used in this chapter, unless additional meaning clearly appears from the context, shall have the meanings subscribed: A. "Aggrieved person" includes any person who: 1. Claims to have been injured by an unfair practice prohibited by this chapter; or 2. Believes that he or she will be injured by an unfair practice prohibited by this chapter that is about to occur.
B. "Blockbusting" means, for profit, to promote, induce, or attempt to promote or induce any person to, engage in a real estate transaction by representing that a person or persons of a particular race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin,
age, sex, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or who participates in a Section 8 program, or who is disabled, or who is a disabled person who uses a (( C. "Charge" means a claim or set of claims alleging an unfair practice or practices prohibited under this chapter. D. "Charging party" means any person who files a charge alleging an unfair practice under this chapter, including the Director. E. "City" means The City of Seattle. F. "City department" means any agency, office, board or commission of the City, or any department employee acting on its behalf, but shall not mean a public corporation chartered under Ch. 3.110 SMC, or any contractor, consultant, or concessionaire or lessee. G. "Commission" means the Seattle Human Rights Commission. H. "Department" means the Seattle Office for Civil Rights. I. "Director" means the Director of the Seattle Office for Civil Rights or the Director's designee.
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J. "Disabled" means a person who has a disability. K. 1. "Disability" means the presence of a sensory, mental, or physical impairment that: a. Is medically cognizable or diagnosable; or b. Exists as a record or history; or c. Is perceived to exist whether or not it exists in fact. 2. A disability exists whether it is temporary or permanent, common or uncommon, mitigated or unmitigated, or whether or not it limits the ability to work generally or work at a particular job or whether or not it limits any other activity within the scope of this chapter. 3. For purposes of this definition, "impairment" includes, but is not limited to: a. Any physiological disorder, or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory, including speech organs, cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitor-urinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine; or b. Any mental, developmental, traumatic, or psychological disorder, including but not limited to cognitive limitation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities. L. "Discriminate" means to do any act which constitutes discrimination.
M. "Discrimination" means any conduct, whether by single act or as part of a practice, the effect of which is to adversely affect or differentiate between or among individuals or groups of individuals, because of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry,
national origin, age, sex, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, honorably discharged veteran or military status, participation in a Section 8 program, the presence of any disability or the use of a
(( N."Dual-filed" means any charge alleging an unfair practice that is filed with both the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Seattle Office for Civil Rights without regard to which of the two agencies initially processed the charge. O. "Dwelling" means any building, structure, or portion thereof which is occupied as, or is designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more individuals or families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon of any such building, structure, or portion thereof. P. "Gender identity" means a person's identity, expression, or physical characteristics, whether or not traditionally associated with one's biological sex or one's sex at birth, including transsexual, transvestite, and transgendered, and including a person's attitudes, preferences, beliefs, and practices pertaining thereto. Q. "Hearing Examiner" means the Seattle Hearing Examiner. R. "Lender" means any bank, insurance company, savings or building and loan association, credit union, trust company, mortgage company, or other person or agent thereof, engaged wholly or partly in the business of lending money for the financing or acquisition, construction, repair or maintenance of real property. S. "Marital status" means the presence or absence of a marital relationship and includes the status of married, separated, divorced, engaged, widowed, single or cohabiting. T. "Occupant" means any person who has established residence or has the right to occupy real property. U. "Owner" means any person who owns, leases, subleases, rents, operates, manages, has charge of, controls or has the right of ownership, possession, management, charge, or control of real property on their own behalf or on behalf of another.
V. "Parental status" means being a parent, step-parent, adoptive parent, guardian, foster parent or custodian of a minor child or children under the age of (( W. "Party" means the person charging or making a charge or complaint or upon whose behalf a complaint is made alleging an unfair practice, the person alleged or found to have committed an unfair practice, and the Seattle Office for Civil Rights.
X. "Person" means one (( Y. "Political ideology" means any idea or belief, or coordinated body of ideas or beliefs, relating to the purpose, conduct, organization, function or basis of government and related institutions and activities, whether or not characteristic of any political party or group. This term includes membership in a political party or group and includes conduct, reasonably related to political ideology, which does not interfere with the property rights of the landowner as it applies to housing. Z. "Prospective borrower" means any person who seeks to borrow money to finance the acquisition, construction, repair, or maintenance of real property. AA. "Prospective occupant" means any person who seeks to purchase, lease, sublease or rent real property. BB. "Real estate agent, salesperson or employee" means any person employed by, associated with or acting for a real estate broker to perform or assist in the performance of any or all of the functions of a real estate broker. CC. "Real estate broker" means any person who for a fee, commission, or other valuable consideration, lists for sale, sells, purchases, exchanges, leases or subleases, rents, or negotiates or offers or attempts to negotiate the sale, purchase, exchange, lease, sublease or rental of real property of another, or holds themselves out as engaged in the business of selling, purchasing, exchanging, listing, leasing, subleasing, or renting real property of another, or collects the rental for use of real property of another. DD. "Real estate transaction" means the sale, purchase, conveyance, exchange, rental, lease, sublease, assignment, transfer or other disposition of real property. EE."Real estate-related transaction" means any of the following: 1. The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance: a. For purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining real property, or b. Secured by real property; or 2. The selling, brokering, or appraising of real property; or 3. The insuring of real property, mortgages, or the issuance of insurance related to any real estate transaction. FF. "Real property" means dwellings, buildings, structures, real estate, lands, tenements, leaseholds, interests in real estate cooperatives, condominiums, and any interest therein. GG. "Respondent" means any person who is alleged to have committed an unfair practice prohibited by this chapter. HH. "Section 8 program" means a federal, state or local government program in which a tenant's rent is paid partially by the government program (through a direct contract between the government program and the owner or lessor of the real property), and partially by the tenant. II. "Service animal" means an animal that provides medically necessary support for the benefit of an individual with a disability.
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(( Section 7. Subsection B of Section 14.08.070 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 14.08.070 Unfair inquiries or advertisements. * * *
B. Publish, print, circulate, issue or display or cause to be published, printed, circulated, issued or displayed, any communication, notice, advertisement, statement, or sign of any kind relating to a real estate transaction or listing of
real property which indicates directly or indicates an intention to make any preference, limitation or specification based on race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender
identity, political ideology, honorably discharged veteran or military status, the participation in a Section 8 program, the presence of a disability, or the use of a (( * * * Section 8. Section 14.08.110 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 14.08.110 Time for filing charges.
Charges filed under this chapter must be filed with the Department within (( Section 9. Subsection B of Section 14.08.110 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 14.08.120 Charge -Amendments. * * *
B. The charging party may amend a charge to include allegations of retaliation which arose after the filing of the original charge. Such amendment must be filed within (( * * * Section 10. Subsection D of Section 9.25.023 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 9.25.023 Definitions -P -T. * * *
D. ((" * * * Section 11. Section 14.10.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 14.10.010 Statement of purpose.
The ordinance codified in this chapter is an exercise of the police power for the protection of the public welfare, health, peace and safety of the residents of The City of Seattle and in fulfillment of the provisions of the Constitution of this state.
The City Council hereby finds and declares that practices of discrimination in public or private contracting against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, age, creed,
religion, ancestry, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status or the presence of any (( Section 12. Section 14.10.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: 14.10.020 Definitions. When used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: * * *
"Discrimination," "discriminate," and/or "discriminatory act" means any act (other than an action taken in accordance with a lawful affirmative action program) or failure to act whether by itself or as part of a practice, the effect of which is to
adversely affect or differentiate between or among individuals or groups of individuals by reason of race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, honorably
discharged veteran or military status or the presence of (( * * * 1."Disability" means the presence of a sensory, mental, or physical impairment that: a. Is medically cognizable or diagnosable; or b. Exists as a record or history; or c. Is perceived to exist whether or not it exists in fact. 2. A disability exists whether it is temporary or permanent, common or uncommon, mitigated or unmitigated, or whether or not it limits the ability to work generally or work at a particular job or whether or not it limits any other activity within the scope of this chapter. 3. For purposes of this definition, "impairment" includes, but is not limited to: a. Any physiological disorder, or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory, including speech organs, cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitor-urinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine; or b. Any mental, developmental, traumatic, or psychological disorder, including but not limited to cognitive limitation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities. *** Section 13. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days from and after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020. Passed by the City Council the ____ day of ________________________, 2011, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of ___________________, 2011. _________________________________ President __________of the City Council Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2011. _________________________________ Michael McGinn, Mayor Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2011. ____________________________________ City Clerk (Seal) Julie Nelson/tr SOCR Civil Rights Ordinance Update ORD January 19, 2011 Version #4 |
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