Nondiscrimination Policy

1. Central Arkansas Water shall not discriminate against employees or potential employees because of the race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran's status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political opinions or affiliation, or any other status protected by law of the employee or potential employee.
2. Central Arkansas Water shall strive to maintain a work place free from all types of harassment or discrimination, including sexual harassment or harassment based on a person's race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran's status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political opinions or affiliation, or any other status protected by law.
3. If Central Arkansas Water provides an employee benefit which is also available to or which provides a benefit for an employee's spouse, Central Arkansas Water shall endeavor to provide such employee benefit to all legally married couples (whether same-sex or opposite-sex) on the same basis. For purposes of employee benefits, a spouse shall mean the person that is legally married to a CAW employee (whether same-sex or opposite-sex) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the marriage was established; provided, if the marriage was performed in a foreign nation, such marriage must also be recognized as valid by the State Department of the United States of America. A marriage of same-sex individuals that is validly entered into in a state whose laws authorize the marriage of two individuals of the same sex shall be recognized, even if the individuals are domiciled in a state that does not recognize the validity of same-sex marriages. Individuals (whether part of an opposite-sex or same-sex couple) who have entered into a registered domestic partnership, civil union, or other similar formal relationship recognized under state law that is not denominated as a marriage under the laws of that state are not recognized as married for the purposes of obtaining spousal benefits through CAW.
4. Central Arkansas Water shall not discriminate against vendors because of the race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran's status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political opinions or affiliation, or any other status protected by law of the vendor's owners or personnel.
5. Central Arkansas Water shall not discriminate in the providing of water services because of the race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran's status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political opinions or affiliation, or any other status protected by law of the customer.
6. All contracts providing goods and services to Central Arkansas Water shall contain a clause stating that the contracting party shall not discriminate in its employment practices or its provision of goods or services on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran's status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political opinions or affiliation. All bid and proposal requests for such contracts from Central Arkansas Water shall include notification of such a clause and the requirement that it be followed.

Adopted by the Central Arkansas Water Board of Commissioners, May, 2015