Civil Rights - Program Overview

The Civil Rights Division’s programs provide an avenue to file a complaint for individuals who believe they have been discriminated against in an employment or housing transaction. In order to file a complaint, the individual should meet the jurisdictional requirements of the appropriate statute.

Additional information about the discrimination complaint process may be found at Employee Rights & Laws for employers and employees. Additional information about the housing discrimination complaint process maybe found at Civil Rights & Discrimination for housing providers and consumers.

TWC’s Civil Rights Division (the Division) enforces Texas Labor Code, Chapter 21. The Division enters into an Annual Worksharing Agreement and contract with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The Division also enforces the Texas Fair Housing Act. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) enters into a cooperative agreement with the Division.

EEOC and HUD allocate funds to state and local agencies that investigate complaints filed under state or local laws that are substantially equivalent to the federal laws. These funds in general on based on case closures.

Texas Labor Code, Chapter 21, the Texas Fair Housing Act (Texas Property Code, Chapter 301) and other state and federal laws and regulations govern the programs administered by the Division. Other federal and Texas laws and regulations include:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended
• The Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended
• Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended
• Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 40, Section 819
• 29 Code of Federal Regulations
• 24 Code of Federal Regulations
• Chapter 419, Texas Government Code (state military training / deployment)