Nondiscrimination Policy, Notice, and Section 504 Grievance Procedure
DORA Nondiscrimination Policy and Notice
The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) complies with applicable federal and state civil rights laws and does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, creed, political beliefs, or disability in employment, admission or access to, treatment or participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its programs, services and activities, whether carried out by the department directly or through a contractor or any other entity with which it arranges to carry out its programs, services and activities.
This statement is in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 80, 84, and 91 and Title 28 CFR Part 35, regulations of the State of Colorado issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 24 Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS), Parts 4, 6, 8 and 34, Title 10 Code of Colorado Regulations (CCR) Section 8.100 and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. Additionally, this statement is in accordance with Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, 42 U.S.C. § 18116.
The Department of Regulatory Agencies provides auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with disabilities, and language services, to individuals whose first language is not English, when needed to ensure equal opportunity and meaningful access to the department's programs, services and activities. Examples of aids and services include, but are not limited to, qualified sign language interpreters, written information in other formats, foreign language interpreters, and information translated into other languages. The department will provide aids and services in a timely manner and free of charge.
If an individual believes discrimination has occurred, a written grievance can be filed with DORA’s Section 504/ADA Coordinator within 60 days of the incident using the designated complaint form. If needed, the ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (or their designee) is available to help file the grievance.
Contact: DORA Section 504/ADA Coordinator
1560 Broadway, Suite 1550
Denver, Colorado 80202
Telephone: 303-894-2052
State Relay: 711
Email: dora_section504_ada@state.co.us
Civil rights complaints can also be filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/smartscreen/main.jsf or by mail, phone, or fax at: 1961 Stout Street Room 08-148 Denver, CO 80294, Telephone: 800-368-1019, Fax: 202-619-3818, TDD: 800-537-7697. Complaint forms are available at https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/index.html.
References:
- DORA NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION
- TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 (“Title VI”).
- SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 (“Section 504”)
- AGE DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 1975
- TITLE II OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, AS AMENDED (“ADA”)
- SECTION 1557 OF THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OF 2010 (“Section 1557 of ACA”)
DORA SECTION 504 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
It is the policy of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) not to discriminate on the basis of disability. DORA has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regulations implementing the Act. Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability may file a grievance under this procedure. It is against the law for the department to retaliate against anyone who files a grievance or cooperates in the investigation of a grievance.
Procedure
Grievances must be submitted to the Section 504 Coordinator within 60 days of the date the person filing the grievance becomes aware of the alleged discriminatory action. A complaint must be in writing, containing the name and address of the person filing it. The complaint must state the problem or action alleged to be discriminatory and the remedy or relief sought.
How to Submit a Grievance
Please use the DORA Section 504 Grievance and Discrimination Complaint Form or contact the Section 504/ADA Coordinator to discuss alternate methods for filing a complaint. The Department will respond to the complaint within 120 days.
The Section 504 Coordinator (or their designee) shall conduct an investigation of the complaint. This investigation may be informal, but it must be thorough, affording all interested persons an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint. The Section 504 Coordinator will maintain the files and records of the Department of Regulatory Agencies relating to such grievances. The Section 504 Coordinator will issue a written decision on the grievance no later than 120 days after its filing. The person filing the grievance may appeal the decision of the Section 504 Coordinator to the Executive Director’s Office within 15 days of receiving the Section 504 Coordinator’s decision. The department shall issue a written decision in response to the appeal no later than 30 days after its filing.
The availability and use of this grievance procedure does not prevent a person from filing a complaint of discrimination on the basis of disability with the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
DORA will make appropriate arrangements to ensure that disabled persons are provided other accommodations, if needed, to participate in this grievance process. Such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, providing interpreters for the deaf, providing taped cassettes of material for the blind, or assuring a barrier-free location for the proceedings. The Section 504 Coordinator (or their designee) will be responsible for such arrangements.