Title
Amending Chapter 183 of the Legislative Code pertaining to human rights protections for persons with disabilities.
Body
SECTION 1
WHEREAS, Chapter 183 of the City’s Legislative Code is the City’s Human Rights Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, federal law explicitly protects qualified persons with a disability stemming from past or inactive alcohol or drug abuse; and
WHEREAS, the City’s eligibility for federal grants depends on the City meeting federal standards for providing protection for qualified persons with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to use more inclusive language focusing on the person who has the disability, rather than the disability itself; and
WHEREAS, using the term “person with a disability” is more person-centered than the term “disabled person”; and
WHEREAS, per section 183.26, the provisions of Chapter 183 are “to be construed liberally” to accomplish the purposes of the ordinance; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Saint Paul does ordain:
SECTION 2
Section 183.01 of the City of Saint Paul Legislative Code is hereby amended as follows:
Section 183.01. Declaration of policy.
The council finds that discrimination in employment, education, real property, public accommodations, public services, contract, and franchise based on race, creed, religion, sex, sexual or affectional orientation, color, national origin, ancestry, familial status, age, disability, marital status or status with regard to public assistance adversely affects the health, welfare, peace and safety of the community. Persons subject to such discrimination suffer depressed living conditions, poverty and lack of hope, injuring the public welfare, placing a burden upon the public treasury to ameliorate the conditions thus produced, and creating conditions which endanger the public peace and order. The public policy of Saint Paul is to foster equal opportunity for all to obtain employment, education, real property, public accommodation...
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