Governor's Office     

Louisiana Commission on Human Rights
   

The LOUISIANA Commission on human RIGHTS

The Office of the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights is an assurance and a commitment by the state of Louisiana that the intent of the values of “equality” and “inalienable rights” are maintained.     –Loyce Pierce Wright Executive Director

The Louisiana Commission on Human Rights (LCHR) is governed by a Board of Commissioners responsible for executing state mandated anti-discriminatory laws. This nine-member board and an executive director constitute the Commission on Human Rights. Commission Members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Louisiana Senate on a bipartisan basis, one from each Congressional district with the remaining membership appointed at large.  

Commission Members are appointed to serve three-year terms and may continue to serve until reappointed or replaced. The Governor selects one of the appointees to serve as Commission chair. 

The Commission has specific powers and duties as defined in LSA-RS. 51:2235. According to state statutes, the Commission is responsible for appointing an executive director and other appropriate staff as deemed necessary to carry out the functions of the office. 

The staff consists of an Executive Director, an Executive Assistant/Investigator, an Administrative Assistant/Intake Officer, an Investigator, and a Student Intern. An attorney from the Attorney General’s Office serves as Legal Advisor.

The Louisiana Commission on Human Rights enforces Louisiana laws that prohibit various forms of discrimination related to employment, public accommodations, and banking and lending practices.

EMPLOYMENT

The employment provisions of state laws apply to employers of 20 or more employees (and in the case of pregnancy and related medical conditions, more than 25), labor organizations, joint labor management committees, employment, and apprenticeship and training programs, and all agencies of state and local governments. These laws prohibit discrimination in hiring, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. They also prohibit limiting, segregating, or classifying an employee or applicant in a manner that would deprive, or tend to deprive, an individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the status of an employee.

State laws make it unlawful for a labor organization to exclude, expel from membership, or otherwise discriminate against a member or applicant for membership; to limit, segregate, or classify membership or an application for membership; or to fail or to refuse to refer an individual for employment; or to cause an employee to violate any provision of the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law.

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS

It is a discriminatory practice for a person to deny an individual the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public accommodation, resort, or amusement. A place of public accommodation, resort, or amusement is defined as any place, store, or other establishment, either licensed or unlicensed, which supplies goods or services to the general public or which solicits or accepts the patronage or trade of the general public, or which is supported directly or indirectly by government funds. A bona fide private club is not a place of public accommodation, resort or amusement. The criteria for making that determination are set forth in the statute.

LENDING AND BANKING PRACTICES

It is an unlawful practice for a financial institution to discriminate against an individual in the granting, withholding, extending, modifying, or renewing of rates, terms, conditions, privileges, or other provisions of financial assistance or the extension of services in connection therewith; to deny credit, increase the charges of fees, to restrict the amount or use of credit extended or impose different terms or conditions with respect to the credit. 

Human Rights Law bars discrimination in all credit transactions. The term “credit” means the right conferred upon a person by a creditor to incur debt and defer its payment, whether or not any interest or finance charge is made for the exercise of this right. 

Financial institutions include, but are not limited to, banks and trust companies, savings and loan associations, private, national, and foreign banking institutions, credit unions, assurance agencies, credit card issuers, mortgage companies and brokers.G

Anyone may file an official complaint with the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights.   There is no fee for this service and a claim may be filed by telephone, mail or in person at the LCHR offices located at 1001 N. 23^rd Street in Baton Rouge, Louisiana