Identifying Your State Agency:
All states except Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee have state civil rights agencies with harassment jurisdiction.
Key State Agencies and Their Scope:
- California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH): Comprehensive harassment and discrimination coverage
- New York State Division of Human Rights: Broad harassment protection with enhanced procedures
- Illinois Department of Human Rights: Extensive coverage with efficient processing
- Texas Workforce Commission: Limited compared to federal law but some state-specific protections
- Florida Commission on Human Relations: Basic coverage similar to federal standards
Agency Research Questions:
- What protected classes does your state recognize?
- What employer size thresholds apply to different types of harassment?
- What are the filing deadlines for state agency complaints?
- What investigation and resolution procedures does the agency use?
- What remedies and damages are available under state law?
State Statute Research Methods
Legislative Research Resources:
- State legislature websites with current statute text
- State bar association employment law section resources
- Legal aid organization state law summaries
- Employment law attorney websites with state law overviews
- Government employee union resources for public sector protections
Case Law Research:
- State supreme court decisions on harassment and discrimination
- State appellate court interpretations of harassment statutes
- Recent trends in state court harassment decisions
- Comparative analysis with federal court decisions
- Local legal newspaper coverage of significant harassment cases
Professional Research Assistance
Legal Research Services:
- State bar association lawyer referral services
- Law school clinical programs with employment law focus
- Legal aid organizations with workplace rights programs
- Employment law attorneys offering consultation services
- Union legal departments for covered employees
Online Research Tools:
- Westlaw and Lexis legal research databases (often available at law libraries)
- Google Scholar for free access to court decisions
- State government websites with employment law information
- Nonprofit organization resources (ACLU, NELA, etc.)
- Professional association resources for your industry