Practical Law Glossary Item 6-572-6885 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Deferral State
A state with a state or local Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA) authorized to enforce its state or local anti-discrimination laws. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) generally defers to the local FEPA during the first 60 days after a plaintiff files an administrative charge of discrimination or harassment when the charge includes a state or local law violation. A plaintiff in a deferral state must file an administrative charge with the EEOC within 300 days of the discriminatory conduct. If the conduct occurred in a state that is not a deferral state, the plaintiff must file a charge with the EEOC within 180 days of the discriminatory conduct.