STATEMENT OF PURPOSE & Co-Sponsors Idaho Human & Civil Rights Provisions of 2010 HOME Read the proposed legislation. Was to be presented to Senate State Affairs Committee in 2010 by: Former Senate Republican Majority Leader Bill Roden and House Assistant Democratic Minority Leader James Ruchti. 2010 SENATE CO-SPONSORS: Minority Caucus Chair Senator Edgar Malepeai (Pocatello, Primary Senate Sponsor) Assistant Majority Leader Senator Joe Stegner (Lewiston) Minority Leader Senator Kate Kelly (Boise) Assistant Minority Leader Senator Elliot Werk (Boise) Senator John Andreason (Boise) Senator Gary Schroeder (Moscow) Senator Tim Corder (Mt. Home) Senator Nicole LeFavour (Boise) Senator Les Bock (Boise) 2010 HOUSE CO-SPONSORS: Assistant Minority Leader Representative James Ruchti (Pocatello, Primary House Sponsor) Minority Leader Representative John Rusche (Lewiston) Minority Caucus Chair Representative Bill Killen (Boise) Chairman of Agriculture Representative Tom Trail (Moscow) Representative Wendy Jaquet (Ketchum) Representative Donna Boe (Pocatello) Representative Elaine Smith (Pocatello) Representative Shirley Ringo (Moscow) Representative George Sayler (Coeur d'Alene) Representative Anne Pasley-Stuart (Boise) Representative Donna Pence (Gooding) Representative Sue Chew (Boise) Representative Liz Chavez (Lewiston) Representative Phylis King (Boise) Representative Branden Durst (Boise) Representative Grant Burgoyne (Boise) Representative Elfreda Higgins (Boise) Representative Brain Cronin (Boise) IN 2010 THIS LEGISLATION WAS SUBBIMTTED TO SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE BUT NOT GRANTED A HEARING FOR INTRODUCTION Return to MAIN Safe Schools - Fair Employment Human Rights HOME PAGE Legislative Statement of Purpose This legislation adds four words to Idaho's Civil Rights Act, non-discrimination statutes and to the Human Rights Act to secure for individuals within the state of Idaho freedom from discrimination in connection with employment, public accommodations, real property transactions, or education because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. As with existing protections for individuals based on race, creed, religion, sex, age and national origin, the legislation will authorize the Idaho Human Rights Commission to investigate complaints of such unlawful discrimination, make findings, act upon its findings, and endeavor to mediate or eliminate by informal means such discrimination, if it exists. Under the human rights act, businesses employing five or fewer employees are exempt. Duplex rental units and shared rental or roommate accommodations are exempt. Furthermore, because a religious exemption is included and because the Human Rights Commission is also charged with protecting the religious rights and freedoms of individuals in the state of Idaho, it is the intent of this legislation that the enactment of this law will not diminish protections for religious organizations to practice and operate according to their religious beliefs. Additionally, the legislation uses exemption language from the successful Salt Lake City ordinance which also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The exemption reiterates the right of the Boy Scouts of America to expressive association in hiring and related matters as established in the U.S. Supreme Court decision Boy Scouts of America v. Dale. Enactment of this legislation will protect the individual interest in personal dignity and make available to the state its full productive capacities. Through utilization of the Human Rights Commission, all parties involved in complaints of unlawful discrimination will be afforded a neutral and cost effective administrative forum to aid in determining issues of alleged discrimination. Nationally, other states have recognized the need for such legislation. Over 100 cities, including Pocatello, Boise, Caldwell and Salt Lake City, have now made it their policy. FISCAL NOTE NONE. While prior to recent budget cuts the caseload for the Human Rights Commission was already heavy, the Commission had said in previous years that they could handle the addition of these few cases each year without additional staff. Read the proposed legislation. Return to MAIN Safe Schools - Fair Employment Human Rights HOME PAGE