The department is firmly committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination both in the work force and in the delivery of services and makes every good faith effort to achieve the objectives of the affirmative action plan.

(1) Employment - The department recruits, hires, develops, and promotes persons in all positions without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, marital status, or presence of a mental, physical, or sensory handicap. The department seeks to maintain a working environment free of harassment or intimidation, and to reasonably accommodate persons of disability.

(2) Affirmative action - The department strives to correct deficiencies regarding the utilization of protected groups, consistent with applicable state and federal laws and guidelines as outlined in the department's affirmative action plan.

(3) Services - The department provides services, programs, and lets contracts in a fair and impartial manner. No person shall, on the grounds of sex, race, creed, color, age, national origin, marital status, or handicap be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity administered or supervised by the department as required by the federal government as a prerequisite for fiscal grants-in-aid (Sec. 601, Civil Rights Act of 1964; 78 Stat. 252; 42 U.S.C. 2000d) and chapter 49.60 RCW.