Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission


The Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission is the state agency that enforces the Nebraska Fair Employment Act of 1965. The commission consists of seven members and an executive director. The commission receives and investigates civil rights complaints that allege unlawful discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation.

Commissioners

Executive Director

The Nebraska Equal Opportunity Act was created as a response to the Civil Rights Movement. The unicameral legislature sought to implement its own state laws to compliment the recent passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Originally, the law prohibited discrimination in employment. However, in 1967, it was expanded to cover equal pay. In 1969, to cover housing and public accommodation.

Criticism

The commission has a very low rate of probable cause findings. In its 2018-2019 annual report, the rate was only 0.01%. For the EEOC, it was 3.0% for the same time period. The low rate calls into question the veracity of the commissions claims that it is neutral and works to eradicate discrimination.

2018–2019 Civil Rights Enforcement Outcomes

Discrimination against Latinos

In 2020, the NEOC was sued for failing to hire Latinos. According to a filed lawsuit in the District Court of Lancaster County, the Executive Director of the commission was accused not hiring highly qualified latinos as civil rights investigators in 2018. Since that time, the commission has worked to become more inclusive. Between 2018 to 2019, the NEOC ran several ads in the Omaha area with La Nueva Radio, to improve outreach to the Hispanic community.