(1) Any apprentice or applicant for apprenticeship who believes they have been discriminated against may file a complaint. The basis of the complaint may be:

(a) Discrimination on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or as otherwise specified by law by a sponsor or a sponsor's program;

(b) The equal opportunity standards have not been followed; or

(c) The sponsor's equal employment opportunity plan does not comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(2) A complaint may be filed in person or through an authorized representative. The complainant may choose to file a complaint with the WSATC or with a private review panel as established in WAC 296-05-445.

(3) A complaint must be in writing and shall be signed by the complainant. The complaint must include the name, address, and telephone number of the person allegedly discriminated against, the program sponsor involved, and a brief description of the circumstances leading to the complaint.

(4) The complaint must be filed not later than one hundred eighty calendar days from the date of the alleged discrimination or violation of the sponsor's equal employment opportunity plan or the rules of this chapter. If a complaint is initially filed with the private review panel and the complainant later wishes to refer the complaint to the WSATC, the referral must occur within one hundred eighty calendar days of the circumstances leading to the complaint or within thirty calendar days of the private review panel's final decision, whichever is later.

(5) Sponsors must provide written notice to applicants and apprentices of their right to file discrimination complaints. This notice must be included in the application materials and must also be displayed in a prominent public location where all apprentices will see the notice.