North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights |
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Testimony Senate Bill 2245 House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee March 10, 2005
Chairman Haas and members of the Committee, I am Cheryl Bergian, Director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition. The Coalition includes a broad-based, statewide membership of individuals and organizations interested in the furtherance of human rights in North Dakota; the Coalition’s mission is to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights.
We support the work of the Division of Human Rights in the North Dakota Department of Labor for the enforcement of the North Dakota Human Rights Act and North Dakota Housing Discrimination Act. We have asked that the name of the North Dakota Department of Human Rights be change to add “and Human Rights” to more accurately reflect the responsibilities of the department, and to make the Division of Human Rights in the Department of Labor easier to find.
It is our understanding from the Labor Commissioner that two-thirds of the work of the Department is now involved human rights complaints. Clearly, changing the name of the Department will provide the visibility for human rights issues that it already is addressing. Residents of North Dakota who are looking for the state agency that has the responsibility of enforcing the North Dakota Human Rights Act and North Dakota Housing Discrimination Act will know where to call simply from the agency’s name. There have been some high profile discrimination cases in North Dakota in which it is apparent that the victims of discrimination did not call the Labor Department. Perhaps that would have been different, and those situations would not have lasted years, if the agency’s name had reflected its responsibilities more accurately.
There could be one-time cost to the name change if the department discards all of its brochures, letterhead and similar items; the fiscal note is $5,200.00. Given the benefit of the name change, we believe that the cost would be worthwhile. However, the cost would not need to be incurred, if the department makes the changes as supplies are used up.
The Worker’s Compensation Bureau changed its name to Workforce Safety and Insurance within the past year. Their website says:
This year marks a turning point for our organization. Just recently, the organization changed its name from North Dakota Workers Compensation (Bureau) to Workforce Safety & Insurance. We live in changing times − and in keeping up with those changing times, we wanted a name that more closely reflects our commitment to providing safety and insurance services to the workforce across North Dakota.
We believe the same reasoning applies to the name change for the North Dakota Department of Labor.
We ask for a do pass recommendation on Senate Bill 2245. I appreciate this opportunity to testify on behalf of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition.
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition P.O. Box 1961 Fargo, North Dakota 58107-1961 Phone: (701) 239-9323 Fax: (701) 478-4452 Email: humanrights@ndhrc.org
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