Alaska Civil Rights Laws
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
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The U.S. Constitution is based on the idea that all people are created equal, even though the nation's history hasn't always reflected this ideal. Equal treatment under the law is referred to as civil rights, which is enforced at both the federal and state levels. In practical terms, civil rights laws are intended to protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of skin color or other characteristics in the areas of housing, employment, and public access.
Federal civil rights protections are extended to the states, such as the ban on gender discrimination in the workplace, but some states offer additional protections. Laws that protect civil rights focus on various categories and characteristics that have been marginalized, such as women, the disabled, and racial minorities.
Alaska Civil Rights Laws at a Glance
As required by the Constitution, federal civil rights protections also apply to the states, such as the ban on discrimination on the basis of national origin or religion. But Alaska also prohibits discrimination on the basis of marital status and parenthood. If you would like to file a civil rights complaint, contact the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights.
Additional details about Alaska's civil rights laws are listed in the following table. See FindLaw's Discrimination section for more articles and resources.
| Code Section | 18.80.200, et seq. (Generally); 14.18.010 (Education) |
| Scope of Alaska Civil Rights Protections | Discrimination in employment, in credit and financing practices, in places of public accommodation, in the sale, lease, or rental of real property because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, or parenthood is strictly prohibited. It is also the policy of the state to encourage and enable physically and mentally disabled persons to participate fully in the social and economic life of the state and to engage in remunerative employment. |
| Agency | Commission for Human Rights; Board of Regents |
| Administrative Preemption | No |
| Private Action Permitted? | Yes |
| Attorney Fees Recoverable by Plaintiff? | Discretionary |
| Statute of Limitations | Not specified |
Note: State laws may change at any time through the enactment of newly signed legislation, decisions from higher courts, and other means. You may want to contact an Alaska civil rights attorney or employment law attorney, or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Research the Law
- Alaska Law
- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.