Discrimination - Other - Arkansas

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Arkansas does not regulate areas of discrimination outside the scope of the federal regulations. The federally protected classes include race, color, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, and genetic information.

There is no designated state agency to enforce discrimination law in Arkansas. A private action must be brought by the aggrieved individual within one year after the alleged employment discrimination or within 90 days of receiving a “Right to Sue” letter or a Notice of “Determination” from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission concerning the alleged unlawful employment practice, whichever is later.

The Arkansas Civil Rights Act applies to employers with nine or more employees and lists the following protected classes:

• Race (includes natural, protective and cultural hairstyle),
• Religion (including all aspects of religious belief, observance, and practice), 
• National origin (includes ancestry and natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle), 
• Gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions),  
• Disability (includes mental or physical impairment, but does not include gambling, kleptomania, pyromania, current use illegal drugs or psychoactive substance use disorders resulting from illegal use of drugs, or alcoholism), and
• Age (only applies to public employees 40 and over).

Crown Act

The Arkansas CROWN act prohibits discrimination based upon natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle in:

• Public schools by a school district administrator, board member, teacher, or other employee; and
• In State-supported two-year and four-year institutions of higher education.

State

Related information

Protected classes ezExplanation

HB 176. Crown Act.

Contact

Arkansas Department of Labor

Statutes and Regulations

A.C.A. § 16-123-102. Definitions of protected classes.

A.C.A. § 16-123-107. Discrimination offenses.

A.C.A. § 21-3-203. Age discrimination prohibited - Exceptions.

A.C.A. § 6-10-138. Discrimination based on natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle in public schools prohibited - Definition.

A.C.A. § 6-61-143(a). Definition

Federal

Contact

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Regulations

See applicable discrimination topic.