The "Fair Contracting Practices Ordinance" Fact Sheet

The Fair Contracting Practices Ordinance is an important vehicle for eradicating discrimination and furthering Seattle's social justice goals.   It will prohibit discrimination in contracting and provide remedies for victims of discrimination.  The Fair Contracting Practices Ordinance is part of a legislative package sponsored by Mayor Paul Schell to reduce barriers and promote contracting opportunities for disadvantaged businesses.

The Fair Contracting Practices Ordinance will prohibit discrimination in contracting between business entities doing business in the City of Seattle.  Modeled after traditional anti-discrimination laws in housing and employment, the ordinance applies to private and public contracting and establishes monetary penalties for violations.

The ordinance protects any person from practices of discrimination in public or private contracting on the basis of race, color, sex, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability.

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) will serve as the City's administrative and enforcement agency, and investigate and issue findings with respect to complaints of unfair contracting practices, conciliate and settle or otherwise resolve disputes between charging parties and respondents, and monitor and enforce any agreements resulting from discrimination claims.

Anyone who claims to have been injured by an unfair contracting practice has the option to file a private civil action in court, whether or not an administrative charge had been filed with our office, unless the charging party has signed a settlement or conciliation agreement.

Once a complaint has been filed with SOCR under the new ordinance, the possible relief available to correct or remedy proven discrimination in contracting includes, but is not limited to, hiring, reinstatement, lost profits (for a period of up to two years prior to the complaint), damages for humiliation and mental suffering of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), attorney's fees, admittance or restoration to membership in a trade association, admittance to participation in a training, or such other action which will accomplish the purposes of this ordinance.

If SOCR finds reasonable cause to support the charges and the case is not settled, the complaint will be referred to the City Attorney to enforce the charges at the Office of the Hearing Examiner.  In the event that the Hearing Examiner determines that a respondent has committed an unfair contracting practice, the Hearing Examiner will have the authority to impose penalties and disqualify respondents from participating in City contracts for up to five years.

Public Meeting Notice and Comment Opportunity for the Draft rules Supporting the Fair Contracting Practices Ordinance

I.     MEETING

The City of Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) announces that the rules created to implement the Fair Contracting Practices Ordinance will be available for public comment by August 30, and that the City will be holding a public meeting from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on September 13th in Room 1003 in the Arctic Building, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA.

II.     AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT RULES

You may pick up a copy of the draft rules at the City of Seattle Council Chambers, the Seattle Office for Civil Rights and the City Clerk's office.  Additionally, interested parties may request that a copy of the draft rules be mailed to them by calling the SOCR at (206) 684-4543.

The offices where draft rules will be available are:

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Last Updated: August 14, 2001
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