44-1006. Construction of act. (a) The provisions of this act shall be construed liberally for the accomplishment of the purposes thereof. Nothing contained in this act shall be deemed to repeal any of the provisions of any other law of this state relating to discrimination because of race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry, unless the same is specifically repealed by this act.

(b) Nothing in this act shall be construed to mean that an employer shall be forced to hire unqualified or incompetent personnel, or discharge qualified or competent personnel.

(c) The definition of "disability" in K.S.A. 44-1002(j), and amendments thereto, shall be construed in accordance with the following:

(1) The definition of disability in this act shall be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals under this act, to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of this act;

(2) an impairment that substantially limits one major life activity need not limit other major life activities in order to be considered a disability;

(3) an impairment that is episodic or in remission is a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active; and

(4) (A) The determination of whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity shall be made without regard to the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures such as the following:

(i) Medication, medical supplies, equipment, or appliances, low-vision devices (which do not include ordinary eye glasses or contact lenses), prosthetics including limbs and devices, hearing aids and cochlear implants or other implantable hearing devices, mobility devices, or oxygen therapy equipment and supplies;

(ii) use of assistive technology;

(iii) reasonable accommodations or auxiliary aides or services; or

(iv) learned behavioral or adaptive neurological modifications.

(B) The ameliorative effects of the mitigating measures of ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses shall be considered in determining whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity.

(C) As used in this subparagraph:

(i) "Ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses" means lenses that are intended to fully correct visual acuity or eliminate refractive error; and

(ii) "low-vision devices" means devices that magnify, enhance, or otherwise augment a visual image.

History: L. 1953, ch. 249, § 6; L. 1963, ch. 279, § 5; L. 1970, ch. 192, § 4; L. 1972, ch. 194, § 6; L. 1974, ch. 209, § 5; L. 1991, ch. 147, § 5; L. 2012, ch. 48, § 2; July 1.