A county initiative to improve civil rights protections in the jurisdiction looks to protect residents facing discriminatory practices by private and public employers and public accommodation providers.
Anne Arundel County Office of Equity and Human Rights (OEHR) enabled their first ever comprehensive anti-discrimination law. The new law enables a number of different protections for residents. It prevents employers and public facility owners, managers, or employees from treating residents differently based on age, ancestry, citizenship, color, creed, disability, familial status, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, occupation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or source of income. Additionally, it imposes civil penalties for breaches of the anti-discrimination regulations and broadens anti-discrimination protections to cover both private and public employment as well as public accommodations.
From the press release:
"State or federal agencies typically have higher caseloads and tend to be backlogged," said Office of Equity and Human Rights Director Asha Smith. "This law provides a local channel for residents to report complaints of discrimination against local private employers or local public accommodations."
The new law is part of a larger effort to strengthen civil rights protections in the county.
Read the full press release from Anne Arundel County.
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