The Maine Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”) enforces Maine’s anti-discrimination laws. The Commission is a quasi-independent state agency State agency that was established in 1971.

The Commission’s purpose is “to keep continually in review all practices infringing on the basic human right to a life with dignity, and the causes of these practices, so that corrective measures may, where possible, be promptly recommended and implemented”.  We do this by receiving and investigating complaints of unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, education, access to public accommodations, extension of credit, and offensive names.

The Commission attempts to resolve complaints discrimination to the mutual satisfaction of those who are involved, interprets the MHRA, provides guidance, and enforces the MHRA in the public interest. The Commission is a neutral agency, and does not provide assistance or legal advice to any party to a complaint.

The Maine Human Rights Act authorizes the Commission to pursue remedies for unlawful discrimination in Court when necessary to enforce the Act. 

Commission policy is formulated by five Commissioners appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for staggered five year terms. The Governor designates the Chair of the Commission from among its members. Commissioners make the final finding on all complaints of discrimination investigated by the Commission staff and not settled or administratively dismissed.

The Commission appoints an Executive Director. The Executive Director in turn has the authority to appoint and supervise the Commission’s staff.

The Commission enters into agreements with Federal Partners when appropriate to promote cooperation, avoid duplication, and work towards eliminating discrimination.

There are three general categories of discrimination:

Disparate treatment: This occurs when a person is treated less favorably than others because of their membership in a protected class.

Disparate impact: This occurs when a policy or practice that is neutral on its face operates in a way that adversely impacts members of a protected class. 

Hostile environment:  This usually does not involve a single discriminatory action, but rather a pattern that is abusive and is based on protected class.  It is often referred to as harassment.  To be unlawful under the MHRA, the conduct must be severe or pervasive to the point that the environment is abusive, and be both subjectively and objectively offensive.

In addition, it is unlawful to retaliate against someone for opposing a violation of the MHRA, participating in the Commission process, or asserting their rights under the MHRA.
 

The classes protected in each area of jurisdiction vary:

Employment: race, color, national origin, ancestry, age religion, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, genetic predisposition, protected activity under the Maine Whistleblowers’ Protection Act, and filing a prior claim under the Workers’ Compensation Act.

Housing:  Race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, familial status, and receipt of public assistance.

Public accommodations: Race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, and religion.  In most lodging, having children is also protected.

Education: Race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disability.

Extension of credit:  Sex, sexual orientation, age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, and marital status

Parties who believe they’ve been discriminated against start the process by filling out our intake form online, or calling us to request a form. The online form can be found here: https://mainehumanrightscommission.formstack.com/forms/intake.

Please note that the MHRA requires all complaints to be filed within 300 days of the date of discrimination.

The intake form is not a complaint.  An intake officer will screen the information, and if it meets the minimum requirements to state a claim, they will draft a formal complaint.  The complaint will be sent to the complainant by mail, who will need to make sure it is accurate, sign it in front of a notary public, and return it to us. Complainants can also skip the intake process and file a signed and notarized complaint themselves.

Once we receive the complaint, we will notify the parties named as Respondents and ask them for information.  Complainant will receive that information and have a chance to respond.  After this initial exchange of documents is completed, the case goes to “review”.  The submissions are examined to make sure that Complainant stated a claim covered by the MHRA and provided at least some information to substantiate it.  The parties may also be offered the chance to meet with a neutral third-party mediator to attempt to settle the dispute. 

The file is next assigned to an investigator.  The investigator will conduct whatever preliminary investigation they feel is needed in order to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to believe discrimination occurred.  The “reasonable grounds” standard means the Complainant has at least an even chance of prevailing in a civil lawsuit.  The investigator might request additional information in writing, conduct interviews, or hold a conference, and will facilitate opportunities for settlement.  Ultimately, the investigator will write a report of the case and make a recommendation to the Commissioners as to whether reasonable grounds exist for each claim made.

In general, the Commission has two years from the date the complaint is filed to conclude its investigation.  In housing discrimination cases, the Commission is required to complete its investigation within 100 days whenever possible.

The report is sent to the parties, who may file written objections to the recommended findings.  If they do, they may appear before the Commission to argue their case; if they do not, the case is considered without argument.

The Commission meets monthly to consider the cases before it, and votes to find whether or not reasonable grounds exist.  If it does not, the case is dismissed.  If reasonable grounds do exist, the Commission will attempt to conciliate (resolve) the case by agreement.  However, the Commission’s finding does not result in any relief being awarded, and the Complainant may file suit regardless of the Commission’s finding. 

In reasonable grounds cases, the Commission becomes a party, and has the authority to file a lawsuit in the public interest.  The Commission must file suit in most housing discrimination claims that are not resolved in the conciliation process.

The Commission’s process is described more fully in our procedural rule: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/90/94/348/348c002.doc.

Intake/Framing: the complaint
A detailed interview with person filing the complaint to determine the specifics of the complaint and the Commission's jurisdiction. If there is no jurisdiction or if the alleged discrimination cannot be supported, the complaint is administratively dismissed.

Respondent Notified / Information Requested
A copy of the complaint is mailed to the respondent with formal notification and a request for information; settlement is invited.

Settle
If the matter can be settled between the parties prior to a Commission finding, an agreement is executed.

Dismiss
If the Commission staff ascertains that the terms of the settlement agreement have been met, the matter is administratively dismissed.

Investigation

Facts are gathered, either by fact finding conference, review of information in the file, or interviews with the parties; report is written; both parties may respond to report; report containing staff recommendations and responses from complainant and respondent are forwarded to the Commissioners for review.

Findings by Commission
At a public meeting, the Commission considers each case and votes to find whether or not reasonable grounds exist to believe that unlawful discrimination has occurred.

Dismiss

If the Commission finds that no reasonable grounds exist to believe that unlawful discrimination occurred, the complaint is dismissed.

Conciliate

If the Commission finds that reasonable grounds exist to believe that unlawful discrimination has occurred, conciliation negotiations occur.

Court

If the matter cannot be settled, a civil action may be filed in Superior Court.

The Commission’s process is described more fully in our procedural rule: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/90/94/348/348c002.doc.