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What does the Kansas Human Rights Commission do?
The mission of the Kansas Human Rights Commission is to prevent and eliminate discrimination and assure equal opportunities in all employment relations, to eliminate and prevent discrimination, segregation or separation, and assure equal opportunities in all places of public accommodations and in housing.
The Commission achieves its mission by investigating complaints alleging discrimination and through a public education program designed to prevent discrimination.
What do Kansas laws and guidelines cover?
Kansas laws protect persons from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Charges of alleged discrimination may be filed on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, retaliation, age in employment only, and familial status in housing only. Genetic screening and testing in the area of employment is prohibited
Employment and public accommodation complaints must be filed within six months from the last alleged discriminatory act. Housing complaints must be filed within one year of the last date of incident.
Who can file a complaint?Any person who feels they have been discriminated against or denied an equal opportunity in the areas of employment, housing or public accommodations based on race, religion, color, sex, disability, ancestry, national origin, retaliation, age in the employment, familial status in the area of housing only, genetic screening and testing in employment only, and can articulate a prima facie case may file a complaint with the Commission.
How do I file a complaint?
An individual may write, telephone, e-mail, or come into one of the Commission's offices to begin the filing process with the assistance of one our intake workers. A complaint may be filed personally or by an attorney.
A complaint alleging discrimination in employment, housing, or
public accommodation must be signed and verified before a notary public
or other person authorized to administer oaths.
Complaint forms can be obtained at the Kansas Human Rights Commission's website at www.khrc.net or by calling our complaint intake unit at 1-888-793-6874 or (785) 296-3206.
Will the Kansas Human Rights Commission help me in filing a complaint?
Yes, intake staff is available to assist in drafting a complaint based on information provided by the complainant. Intake staff can be reached at 1-888-793-6874 or (785) 296-3206, or an e-mail can be sent to Click Here.
What happens if my complaint does not fall in the Commission's jurisdiction
The intake department will refer inquirers to other agencies for issues outside of the Commission's jurisdiction whenever possible.
Occasionally, employment complaints will fall outside the six-month time limitation set by the State of Kansas, but are within the 300-day limitation set by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). When that happens, the KHRC will assist the individual in completing the complaint forms and forward them onto the EEOC for investigation and determination. The EEOC will notify individuals when a complaint is transferred to them under these circumstances.
After I file a complaint with the Commission, what is the next step?
The Commission offers a voluntary third-party mediation program statewide through Kansas Legal Services to allow parties to mediate and resolve their controversies. A significant percentage of the cases filed with the Kansas Human Rights Commission are settled through the Kansas Legal Services’ mediation program. Parties participating in the mediation program are highly satisfied with it.
What happens if mediation is not selected or if mediation fails?
When mediation services are not selected by either party or when mediation services fail, a complaint may be sent for full investigation.
During a full investigation, a field investigator will interview the
complainant, review relevant documents, conduct interviews with
witnesses, and summarize the case for the investigating
commissioner. The investigator's role is that of a fact
finder. The investigator does not determine the outcome of the
case, but rather gathers and presents the facts to a commissioner for
determination. Information is gathered in an objective and
impartial manner. All information discovered throughout the course of
the investigation of an employment, housing, or public accommodation
case is confidential.
Depending upon the information obtained during the investigative process, the investigating commissioner makes a determination of either "Probable Cause" or "No Probable Cause".
If the Commission finds "Probable Cause" in an employment, housing, or public accommodation complaint, then an attempt will be made to reach a written settlement between the complainant and the respondent. If conciliation efforts fail for an employment, housing, or public accommodation complaint, the case may be scheduled for a public hearing.
What do I do if I have more questions?
Contact us at:
Kansas Human Rights Commission
900 S.W. Jackson, Suite 568S
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1258
(785) 296-3206
1-888-793-6874
Website: www.khrc.net