(1) These regulations carry out the law against discrimination as stated generally in RCW 49.60.010 and 49.60.030, and interpret RCW 49.60.180 and 49.60.200 which declare certain preemployment inquiries to be unfair practices.

(2) The commission generally follows chapter 49.60 RCW and federal court decisions that interpret comparable statutes and rules. The commission will not follow federal precedents when a different interpretation of state statutes and rules will better carry out the purposes of chapter 49.60 RCW.

(3) This regulation cannot cover every question that might arise in connection with inquiries prior to employment. The commission expects that in most cases these rules, either directly or by analogy, will guide those who are covered by the law.

(4) Definition: In this chapter, the following words are used in the meaning given, unless the context clearly indicates another meaning.

"Protected status" is short for the phrase, "age, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a disabled person," and means the full phrase (see RCW 49.60.180).