Washington State Law Against Employment Discrimination
[CH. 183.] SESSION LAWS, 1949.
CHAPTER, 183
[ S.B.12. ]
DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT.
AN ACT to prevent and eliminate discrimination in employment againstpersons because of race, creed, color or national origin; creating inthe executive department a state board, against discrimination;defining its functions, powers and duties and providing for theappointment and compensation of its officers and employees.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Washington:
SECTION 1. This law shall be known as the Law Against Discriminationin Employment. It shall be deemed an exercise of the police power ofthe state for the protection of the public welfare, health and peace ofthe people of this state, and in fulfillment of the provisions of theconstitution of this state concerning civil rights; and the Legislaturehereby finds and declares that practices of discrimination against anyof its inhabitants because of race, creed, color or national origin area matter of state concern that such discrimination threatens not onlythe rights and proper privileges of its inhabitants but menaces theinstitutions and foundation of a free democratic state. A state agencyis hereby created with powers with respect to elimination andprevention of discrimination in employment because of race,
creed, color or national origin, as herein provided; and the Boardestablished hereunder is hereby given general jurisdiction and powerfor such purposes.
SEC. 2. The opportunity to obtain employment without discriminationbecause of race, creed, color declared national to be origin is herebyrecognized as and declared to be a civil right.
SEC. 3. As used herein: (a) The term person includes one or moreindividuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, legalrepresentatives, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers or any group ofpersons, and includes any political or civil subdivision of the stateand any agency or instrumentality of the state or of any political orcivil subdivision thereof;
(b) The
