Descriptions of Laws and Regulations

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Equal Pay Act of 1963

      Requires equal pay for equal work, i.e. substantially equal in skill, effort, and responsibility.  Permissible pay discrimination under the Act includes circumstances in which pay differentials between men and women in the same job title are due to (1) seniority system, (2) merit system, (3) system which measures earnings by quantity or quality of production, or (4) differentials based on any other factor other than sex.

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Civil Rights Act of 1964

      Prohibits discrimination in programs receiving Federal funds.

Title VI

      Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or national origin in federally-financially assisted programs.

Title VII

      Prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex (including pregnancy).

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Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1964:

      Prohibits discrimination in employment of individuals over 40 years of age and older, except in special circumstances.

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Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments to the Higher Education Act

      Prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions receiving Federal funds.  Covers programs and activities including students loans and scholarships, access  to courses, housing, health services, athletics, career services and publications.

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Executive Order 11246 (1965):

      Prohibits discrimination in employment practices of Federal contractors who receive $50,000 or more in federal funds and have 50 or more employees.  Requires affirmative action be taken to provide employment opportunities for qualified women and minorities.

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Rehabilitation Act of 1973

      Prohibits discrimination in programs receiving Federal funds on the basis of disability.

Section 503

      Requires affirmative action be taken to provide employment opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities  by employers receiving more than $2,500 or more in Federal funds.

Section 504

      Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs receiving federal funds.  Requires reasonable accommodation  qualified persons with disabilities, except in cases of undue hardship is shown.

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Section 402 of the Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974:

      Requires affirmative action be taken to employ Vietnam era veterans, special disabled and disabled veterans by employers receiving $10,000 or more in Federal funds.  Amended in 1992 to cover all veterans.

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Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990:

      Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment (Title I), by state and local governments (Title II), in public accommodations (Title III) and in telecommunications (Title IV).

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Civil Rights Act of 1991

      Amends Civil Rights Act of 1964 by adding the protected category of "disability" and provides for appropriate remedies for intentional discrimination and unlawful harassment in the work place.  The 1991 Act does not affect court-ordered remedies, affirmative action, or conciliation agreements, that are in accordance with the law.

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URL:  http://www.uri.edu/affirmative_action/laws_regulations.html