Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD)

The Rocky Mountain State of Colorado boasts a diverse economy based on both traditional industries (like beer production and cattle farming) and hi-tech industries, such as defense and advanced machining. Colorado houses numerous facilities critical to the US military, including NORAD and Buckley Air Force Base; at the same time, the state offers abundant wilderness treasures, including nearly 25 million acres of Federal national parkland. CO’s total population (according to the most recent census) is approaching five million; and the annual state domestic product exceeds $240 billion. The sheer diversity of landscapes, lifestyles, and “microeconomies” may be responsible for Colorado’s relatively high standard of living and general resilience in the face of the flagging national economy.

The state agency that overseas employment discrimination is called the Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD). Together with the Colorado Rights Commission, the CCRD safeguards citizens, administers measures to fight discrimination in the workplace, and strives to ensure that all Coloradoans get equal protection under the law.

The CCRD also works in conjunction with federal agencies, like the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), pursuant to Colorado’s “anti-discrimination” statutes 24-34-402, 24-34-502 and 24-34-602. The CCRD employs agents known as Compliance Investigators to enforce anti-discrimination law and administer compliance measures.

In August 2007, the state legislature passed the Colorado Anti Discrimination Act (CADA), which expanded and fortified workplace anti-discrimination protection. Specifically, it banned discrimination on the basis of religion and sexual orientation. In May 2008, Colorado Governor Ritter signed into law an expansion of CADA, known as Senate Bill 200, which extended these anti-discrimination protections into other arenas, such as housing and public accommodations.

Colorado law currently prohibits discrimination in the workplace, with respect to a person’s sexual orientation, marital status, gender, ancestry, race, color, national origin, age and disability. If you believe your rights in the workplace have been violated, contact counsel here at Joseph, Herzfeld, Hester & Kirschenbaum LLP today for a free consultation.