Kansas Civil Rights Laws
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed July 26, 2022
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It may feel like civil rights movements are a thing of the past, confined to marches in the 1960s. But civil rights laws continue to combat racial and gender discrimination, ensure equal opportunity hiring, and guarantee fair housing today. The equal rights theories that supported early civil rights movements have been used recently to argue against bans on gay marriage.
So how do civil rights laws work in the Sunflower State? Here is an overview of civil rights laws in Kansas.
Civil Rights Laws
When we talk about “civil rights,” we are generally referring to the collective rights of all citizens to fair and equal treatment under the law. The federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers the majority of our civil rights protections, while state civil rights laws often duplicate federal regulations and in some cases can provide even greater protections against discrimination.
Civil Rights Laws in Kansas
The details of Kansas’s civil rights statutes are listed below.
Code Section |
Kansas Statute 44-1001, et seq.: Kansas Acts Against Discrimination; Housing: 44-1015, et seq.; Employment and Age: 44-1111, et seq. |
Agency |
Generally, Housing, Employment and Age: Commission on Human Rights |
Administrative Preemption |
Yes |
Private Action Permitted? |
Generally: No; Housing: Yes; Employment and Age: No |
Attorney Fees Recoverable by Plaintiff? |
No |
Statute of Limitations |
Generally: 6 months; Housing: 1 yr.; Employment and Age: 300 days |
Filing Civil Rights Claims
The majority of states have a state civil rights office that can enforce civil rights protections by way of civil lawsuits on behalf of citizens. These suits are intended to punish cases of discrimination under the state’s civil rights statutes and hopefully deter them in the future.
Due to the overlap with federal civil rights statutes, and the designation of which courts can hear a civil rights lawsuit, there are several options and important legal requirements when it comes to filing a civil rights claim. A state civil rights office can answer your questions relating to discrimination in many areas, and can also provide resources for filing civil rights claims. Discrimination and civil rights issues in Kansas are handled by the Kansas Human Rights Commission.
Kansas Civil Rights Laws: Related Resources
Understanding state civil rights laws, and how they work together with federal protections, can be complicated. You can visit FindLaw’s section on Civil Rights for additional articles and information on this topic. You can also consult with a Kansas civil rights attorney in your area if you would like legal assistance regarding a civil rights matter.