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Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA)
Practical Law Glossary Item 7-503-5152 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA)
A state or local equivalent of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). FEPAs enforce most of the state or local laws prohibiting employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation within their jurisdictions. For information on state anti-discrimination laws, see Anti-Discrimination Laws: State Q&A Tool.
Most FEPAs coordinate the adjudication of charges with the EEOC through work sharing agreements. Under work sharing agreements, generally:
- If the charge is filed with the EEOC, a copy is provided to the relevant FEPA, but the charge is adjudicated by the EEOC.
- If the charge is filed with the relevant FEPA, a copy is provided to the EEOC, but the charge is adjudicated by the FEPA.
Examples of FEPAs include:
- The New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR) (see NYSDHR website).
- The New York City Commission on Human Rights (see Commission website).
- The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) (see CRD website).
For more information about state and local agencies, see EEOC: Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPAs) and Dual Filing and Practice Note, Responding to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Charges: Laws Enforced by the EEOC and FEPAs.