Colorado Civil Rights Division and Colorado Civil Rights Commission
Department of Regulatory Agencies
The Colorado Civil Rights Division, together with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, is the state agency established in 1957 to administer and enforce Colorado's anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing and public accommodations.  The agency's mission is to assure that all Coloradoans are afforded the equal protection of the law. The Commission and Division each play their respective roles, conducting enforcement activities and engaging in prevention efforts to raise awareness of discriminatory practices and Colorado's anti-discrimination statutes.

The Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) operates under the guidance and policy-making authority of the 7-member Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. The Division staff serves Colorado citizens, public and private employers of all sizes, housing providers, and communities across the state by: investigating complaints of discrimination; performing intake and conducting appropriate dispute resolution, including mediation and settlement negotiations; issuing determinations as to whether there is probable cause to believe that illegal discrimination has occurred; conducting outreach and education on laws and issues regarding civil rights to ensure compliance.

The Division works in close cooperation with federal and local agencies and community-based groups whose missions parallel its own. The Division maintains formal work-sharing agreements with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to avoid duplication of efforts on those cases wherein joint jurisdiction (state and federal) exists.

There are also cases in which the Division has exclusive jurisdiction - situations in which federal anti-discrimination laws do not apply. These include: businesses with fewer than 15 employees; marital status as a basis for housing discrimination; marriage to a co-worker as a basis for employment discrimination (businesses with 25 or more employees); public accommodations; and advertising.

Division Website: www.dora.state.co.us/civil-rights

The Colorado Civil Rights Commission is a seven-member bipartisan panel whose mission is to: conduct hearings on the character, causes and extent of illegal discriminatory practices throughout the state; advise the Governor and General Assembly regarding policies and legislation that address illegal discrimination; review appeals of cases investigated and dismissed by the Division; and adopt and amend rules and regulations to be followed in the enforcement of the state's statutes prohibiting discrimination. The Commissioners are citizens of Colorado who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve four-year, voluntary terms. They are selected from across the state to represent both political parties; two represent business (one of which represents small business), two represent government, and three represent the community at large. At least four of the members are selected to represent persons likely to experience discrimination. The Commission helps the agency maintain its impartiality and objectivity while applying Colorado's laws that prohibit discriminatory practices.

Commission Website: www.dora.state.co.us/civil-rights/aboutthecommission.htm

Civil Rights Division Resource Directory

The Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) and the Colorado Civil Rights Commission (CCRC) maintain a Resource Directory to assist in their work of administering and enforcing Colorado's anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing and public accommodations. This Resource Directory helps identify organizations that provide information and assistance on a broad range of related topics. The directory contains names, addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers of these organizations.

Resource Directory Website: www.dora.state.co.us/pls/real/CCRD_RD_App.Home