About Us
Washington State Human Rights Commission
Established in 1949 by the Washington State Legislature, the Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) is a state agency responsible for administering and enforcing the Washington Law Against Discrimination.
The mission of the WSHRC is to eliminate and prevent discrimination in Washington State through the fair application of the law, efficient use of resources, and establishment of productive partnerships in the community.
What is the WSHRC’s statutory authority?
Chapter 49.60 RCW is a state law that prohibits discriminatory practices in the areas of employment, places of public resort, accommodation, or amusement, in real estate transactions, and credit and insurance transactions on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability; and prohibits retaliation against persons who oppose a discriminatory practice, and those who file health care and state employee whistleblower complaints.
How does the WSHRC operate?
There are five Commissioners appointed by the Governor, who appoint an Executive Director. The Executive Director appoints investigative staff, clerks, and other employees as needed to conduct the day-to-day operations of the agency. The Commissioners provide policy direction, adopt regulations, and meet monthly to pass upon the investigative finding determinations recommended by staff, review and approve settlement agreements, and issue Board Orders setting forth the terms of the legally binding agreements and may vote to grant or deny requests for reconsideration of previously issued investigative findings.
Public Records Requests
You may make a public records request using the Records Request Form:
Records Request Form (pdf)
Records Request Form (.docx)
A fee for accessing records may be required according to the Fee Schedule (also included below).
Submit the Records Request Form to the public records officer designee of the Human Rights Commission via email at records@hum.wa.gov or via mail:
Records Analyst
Human Rights Commission
711 S. Capitol Way, Ste. 402
P.O. Box 42490
Olympia, WA 98504-2490
You may also leave a message regarding your request at (360) 359-4925.
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Human Rights Commission Fee Schedule |
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Inspection: |
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No fee |
Inspection of agency records on agency public internet web site or scheduled at agency office. |
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No fee |
Accessing or downloading records the agency routinely posts on its public internet web site, unless the requestor asks the agency for records to be provided through other means (the following copy charges below then apply). |
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Copies: |
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15 cents/page |
Photocopies, printed copies of electronic records when requested by the requestor, or for the use of agency equipment to make photocopies. |
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10 cents/page |
Scanned records, or use of agency equipment for scanning. |
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5 cents/each 4 electronic files or attachment |
Records uploaded to email, or cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery. |
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10 cents/gigabyte |
Records transmitted in electronic format or for use of agency equipment to send records electronically. |
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Actual cost |
Digital storage media or devices: • CD • DVD • Thumb drive • Other |
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Actual cost |
Postage or delivery charges – Specific amount based upon postage/delivery charges for specific mailings or deliveries. |
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(Varies) |
Records for which other costs are authorized pursuant to specific fee statutes. (Describe) |
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↑ Copy charges above may be combined to the extent more than one type of charge applies to copies responsive to a particular request. |
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Customized Service: |
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Actual cost |
Data compilations prepared or accessed as a customized service (cost is in addition to above fees for copies). |
