The mission of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission is to eliminate discrimination and to establish equality and justice for all persons within the state through civil rights enforcement, advocacy, and education.

The powers and duties of the commission are to eliminate discrimination by (1) processing civil rights complaints in the most efficient and effective manner possible for enforcement of the law; (2) educating the public through workshops, consultations, and publications; and (3) advocating tolerant and anti-discriminatory attitudes and behavior.

The Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965, cited as Iowa Code Section 601A, prohibits discrimination in defined areas of life based on certain characteristics. Discrimination is prohibited in employment, public accommodations or services, housing, education, credit, aiding and abetting or retaliation. The protected personal characteristics include:

Age (in employment and credit)
Race
Creed
Color
Sex
Familial Status (in housing and credit only)
National Origin
Religion
Marital Status (in credit only)
Physical and Mental Disability (mental disability not protected in credit)
National Origin

Protected also are persons who are coerced or compelled to participate in discriminatory practices or persons who are discriminated against because they oppose acts forbidden by Section 601A, obey provisions of Section 601A, or participate in proceedings under Section 601A.

The Iowa Civil Rights Commission is a state administrative agency responsible for enforcing the state's anti-discrimination law. The seven-member commission is responsible for key policy-making and final contested case decision-making. The commissioners are appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate. The commissioners who served during FY91 are listed on page 2.

Executive Director lnga Bumbary-Langston, who has served in that position since 1986, manages the day-to-day operation of the agency. She began a one-year leave of absence September 1, 1990; lone G. Shadduck, director of compliance, became acting director. Dawn Peterson, compliance supervisor, was named acting compliance director. Ron Pothast continued as director of administration. This management team oversees a staff of 36, plus three assistant attorneys general assigned to the agency by the Iowa Department of Justice, and two volunteers.