Iowa Civil Rights Commission Annual Report, 2010

Annual report for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission

Iowa Civil Rights Commission Agency Performance Plan and Action Plan,FY 2011-2012

Agency performancce plan and action plan for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission

Iowa Civil Rights Commission 46 Years of Working Toward a State Free of Discrimination Through Enforcement of Civil Rights Laws Annual Report Fiscal Year 2011

Annual Report for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission

Ex-Offenders in Employment, 2005

Currently, Iowa law lacks statutory language that would include Iowans with a criminal history as a protected class (this lack of coverage mirrors most of the nation). However, Iowa has been shown to parallel EEOC guidance that states that an employer may exclude an individual from employment on the basis of a conviction record only if the employer’s decision was “justified by business necessity.”

ICRC Factsheet, July 2008

Questions and Answers on Filing A Civil Rights Complaint

ICRC Factsheet, December 2010

For a person with a disability that limits or restricts their mobility, lack of sufficient parking can be a significant barrier to the full use and enjoyment of his or her dwelling. Lack of sufficient parking for persons with disabilities at a housing complex can also be a violation of State parking law, as well as State and Federal Fair Housing Laws. A resident with a disability who has a DOT parking permit who cannot find an available ‘persons with disabilities parking space’ or other suitable parking is effectively denied housing based on disability.

ICRC Factsheet, June 2010

Three Classes of Animals: 1. Pets are animals living with owners for purposes of love, affection, and company. 2. Emotional Support Animals provide some therapeutic benefit to person with mental or psychiatric disability, requiring no specific training. The mere presence of this animal mitigate the effects of the emotional or mental disability. 3. Service Animals are any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a physical, intellectual, and mental disability—IE guiding individuals with impaired vision, providing protection or rescue work, pulling a wheel chair, or fetching dropped items.

Công bằng Nha cửa và Bạn,

(In Vietnamese)Familial status, or presence of children in the home, protects families with children under 18 years of age. Also protected are families seeking custody of a child or expecting the birth of a child. There is only a narrow exception to this part of the law: units designated as “housing for older persons.” Property owners are required by the law to allow reasonable modifications to a property (at the tenant’s expense) and to make reasonable accommodations in policies in order to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities.

Fair Housing and You

Familial status, or presence of children in the home, protects families with children under 18 years of age. Also protected are families seeking custody of a child or expecting the birth of a child. There is only a narrow exception to this part of the law: units designated as “housing for older persons.” Property owners are required by the law to allow reasonable modifications to a property (at the tenant’s expense) and to make reasonable accommodations in policies in order to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities.

Vivienda Justa y Usted, 2010

Estado familiar, o la presencia de niños en el hogar protege a las familias con personas menores de 18 años de edad. Solamente hay una pequeña excepción a esta parte de la ley: las unidades designadas como "vivienda para personas mayores de edad". La ley requiere que los propietarios permitan modificaciones razonables a la propiedad (por cuenta del inquilino) y hacer acomodaciones razonables en sus políticas para acomodar las necesidades de personas discapacitadas.

Fair Housing For Families with Children

What’s wrong with this advertisement? This wording used to be very familiar in our daily newspaper ads. But the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act was passed in 1988, making it illegal to refuse to rent or sell property to families because they have children. In 1992, the Iowa Civil Rights Act was amended to also prohibit discrimination against families with children. The law defines a family with children as follows: One or more individuals under the age of 18 living with a parent, or with a person having legal custody  A designee of such parent or legal guardian  Persons who are expecting a baby or who are seeking legal custody of a child.

Design and Construction in Fair Housing: Enforcement, Timeless and Practical Suggestion, Spring 2010

In addition to the Fair Housing Act of 1968, other legislation has expanded protection from discrimination for individuals with disabilities, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Notably, the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), signed into law by Ronald Reagan in 1988, expanded equal housing protection to individuals with disabilities. The legislative history behind the 1988 Amendments notes that one aim of the law was to address both purposeful discrimination as well as what is sometimes unintentional discrimination caused by the design and construction of inaccessible housing.

Fair Housing Frequently Asked Questions

Fair housing question and answer sheet produced by the Department of Civil Rights.

Iowa Civil Rights Commission History of Policy, 2000-2007

A Chronological Listing of Important Statements of Support by ICRC 2000-2007

Sexual Orientation Gender Indentity, and Iowa's Safe Schools Law, 2007

Another recently enacted law is the Iowa Safe Schools Law. Effective September 1, 2007, Iowa Code Chapter 280 requires both public and private schools to establish policies prohibiting harassment and bullying against students by employees, school volunteers, or other students. Sexual Orientation and Gender identity are covered under the Safe Schools Law. Students may now seek remedies under both Chapter 216 and Chapter 280.