§ 2-1403.01. Powers of Office and Commission; annual report by Mayor.

Current through October 23, 2012

(a) The activities of the Office and the Commission, under the provisions of this chapter, shall be considered investigations or examinations of municipal matters, within the meaning of § 5-1021; and the Commission, the individual members thereof, and the Director, shall possess the powers vested in the Council of the District of Columbia.

(b) The Office is hereby empowered to undertake its own investigations and public hearings on any racial, religious, and ethnic group tensions, prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, and disorder; and on any form of, or reason for, discrimination, in accordance with §§ 2-1401.01 and 2-1402.01, against any person, group of persons, organization, or corporations, whether practiced by private persons, associations, corporations, city officials, or city agencies; for the purpose of making appropriate recommendations for action, including legislation, against such discrimination.

(c) The Office and the Commission may make, issue, adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind such rules and procedures as they deem necessary to effectuate and which are not in conflict with, the provisions of this chapter. Such rules and procedures and amendments thereto shall be adopted and promulgated in accordance with procedures promulgated pursuant to the D.C. Administrative Procedure Act (§ 2-501 et seq.).

(d) In taking any action authorized or required by the provisions of this chapter, the Commission may act through panels or a division of not less than 3 of its members, a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum.

(e) The Mayor shall recommend to the Council any additional regulations.

(f) Investigations relating to the enforcement of provisions of this chapter shall be given priority over all other duties and activities of the Office.

(g) The Mayor shall report annually to the Council as to the progress with regard to the enforcement of this chapter, and any other activity related to the field of human rights deemed valuable to the Council in the pursuit of its responsibilities.

(h) The Office and the Commission shall enforce §§ 34-1240, 34-1241, 34-1242, 34-1243 and any other human rights provisions of Chapter 12 of Title 34.

                
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(Dec. 13, 1977, D.C. Law 2-38, title III, § 301, 24 DCR 6038; Aug. 21, 1982, D.C. Law 4-142, § 42(i), 29 DCR 2872.)

HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 1-2541.

1973 Ed., § 6-2281.

Legislative History of Laws

For legislative history of D.C. Law 2-38, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 2-1401.01.

Law 4-142 was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 4-35, which was referred to the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on March 9, 1982, and June 8, 1982, respectively. Approved without signature by the Mayor, it was assigned Act No. 4-208 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.

Miscellaneous Notes

Establishment of Department of Human Rights and Minority Business Development: See Mayor's Order 89-247, November 1, 1989.