Purpose

• The bill aims to increase awareness of rights under the Minnesota Human Rights Act by requiring specific notice to workers and students. It seeks to ensure people know how to file a charge with the commissioner or pursue a civil action, and to promote understanding and prevention of discrimination through accessible information and education.

Main Provisions

• Subd.9. Notice to workers (added to Minnesota Statutes 363A.08)

  • Employers must post and maintain printed materials that outline an individual’s rights under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
  • The materials must include rights to file a charge with the commissioner or to bring a civil action authorized under section 363A.33 subdivision 1.
  • Materials must be kept in a location readily accessible to workers in the employer’s workplace.
  • Employers are encouraged to provide information in plain language using adult learning principles and to help both employers and employees understand that civil rights laws are followed.
  • Employers are encouraged to identify, prevent, and reduce prohibited discriminatory conduct under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

• Subd.5. Notice to students (added to Minnesota Statutes 363A.13)

  • Before the start of each school year, each school district must inform students, parents, and legal guardians of their rights under the Minnesota Human Rights Act by publicly posting the information on the district’s or school’s website in the languages used on the website.
  • The notice must include the name, office address, and phone number of the person designated to coordinate compliance.
  • The coordinator is to be the principal or the principal’s designee.
  • Districts and schools are encouraged to provide developmentally appropriate programmatic instruction to help students understand that they learn best when civil rights laws are followed, and to identify, prevent, and reduce prohibited discriminatory conduct under the Act.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds new Subdivision 9 to section 363A.08 requiring employers to display rights information to workers.
• Adds new Subdivision 5 to section 363A.13 requiring school districts to post rights information for students, parents, and guardians and to designate a compliance coordinator.

Implementation Considerations

• Requires creation and display of accessible notice materials for workers and students.
• Public posting on school district websites in multiple languages consistent with the district’s website languages.
• Establishes a designated coordinator (principal or designee) for compliance coordination.

Impacted Parties

• Private and public employers with workers in Minnesota.
• School districts and educational institutions.
• Students, parents, and legal guardians.

Relevant Terms - Minnesota Human Rights Act - Minnesota Statutes 363A.08 - Subdivision 9 (Notice to workers) - Minnesota Statutes 363A.13 - Subdivision 5 (Notice to students) - Rights to file a charge with the commissioner - Civil action under section 363A.33 subdivision 1 - Prohibited discriminatory conduct - Plain language - Adult learning principles - Developmentally appropriate programmatic instruction - Coordinator for compliance - Principal or principal’s designee - Languages appearing on the district or school website - Notice to students, parents, and legal guardians