(A) General.
(1) Rights created under this chapter may be enforced by civil action in the state or local courts of general jurisdiction by aggrieved individuals by bringing an action within one hundred eighty (180) days after the alleged discriminatory practice has occurred.
(2) The court may grant as relief, as it deems appropriate, any permanent or temporary injunction, temporary restraining order, or other order, and may award to the plaintiff actual damages and punitive damages, together with court costs and reasonable attorney's fees in the case of prevailing plaintiff.
(B) The city's relationship with the Kentucky Commissions on Human Rights. In order to effectuate and enforce the provisions of this chapter, the city shall enter into a cooperative, working agreement with the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, whereby all claims filed with the City Administrator alleging discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, financial and credit transactions based on race, color, national origin, religion, age (over forty (40) years old), familial status and disability, shall be referred to the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights for investigation and enforcement in accordance with the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, KRS Chapter 344 et seq. The city shall reserve to itself the resolution of all claims of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
(C) Filing and processing complaints.
(1) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of this chapter may, within one hundred eighty (180) days of the alleged violation, or within one (1) year if the alleged violation pertains to housing, file a written complaint under oath with the City Administrator, containing the following information:
(a) The name and address (if known) of the alleged violator ("respondent"), or facts sufficient to identify that person;
(b) An outline of the material facts upon which the complaint is based;
(c) The alleged violation;
(d) That any conduct of the complainant was for the purpose of obtaining the housing, employment or public accommodation in question, and not for the purpose of harassment or entrapment of the person against whom the complaint is made;
(e) That a complaint concerning this same matter has not been filed with another agency, or that any complaint concerning this matter filed with another agency has been dismissed by such agency without a final judgment on its merits.
(2) Upon receipt of the complaint, the City Administrator shall first make the following determination and take the following action:
(a) If the complaint alleges discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age (over forty (40) years old), familial status or disability, the complaint shall immediately be referred to the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights for further processing, investigation and/or administrative proceedings in accordance with the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, KRS Chapter 344 et seq.
(b) If the complaint alleges discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, a copy of the complaint shall be served on the respondent by certified mail. The respondent shall file a written response to the complaint within twenty (20) days from the receipt thereof.
(D) Investigation - findings and conciliation.
(1) If, after investigation, the City Administrator determines that there is no probable cause to believe that a violation has occurred, the City Administrator shall dismiss the complaint. Written notices of the dismissal shall be served upon the complainant and respondent by U.S. mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall state that the complainant, or his or her designee, may file a written request for reconsideration within ten (10) days in accordance with the provisions set out in KRS 344.200.
(2) If, after investigation, the City Administrator determines that there is probable cause to support the allegations contained in the complaint, the City Administrator shall endeavor to eliminate the alleged violation by a conciliation agreement, signed by all parties and the City Administrator, wherein the alleged violation is eliminated and the complainant is made whole to the greatest extent practicable.
(3) If a settlement is achieved, the City Administrator shall furnish a copy of a signed conciliation agreement to the complainant and the respondent. The terms of the conciliation agreement may be made public, but no other information relating to any complaint, its investigation or its disposition may be disclosed without consent of the complainant and the person charged. A conciliation agreement need not contain a declaration or finding that a violation has in fact occurred, and it may provide for dismissal of the complaint without prejudice. The City Council shall have discretion to approve, modify, or reject the conciliation agreement.
(4) If conciliation is not achieved either by agreement between the parties or approval by the City Council, the City Administrator shall proceed with a hearing in accordance with the Kentucky Civil Rights Act and KRS Chapter 13B.
(E) Hearing procedures, judicial review, and appeals.
(1) The City Administrator shall set a date, time, and location for a hearing, and shall notify the complainant and respondent in writing at least twenty (20) days in advance of that hearing date.
(2) The City Administrator will conduct an administrative hearing and regulate the course of the proceedings in a manner that will promote the orderly and prompt conduct of the hearing.
(3) All pre-hearing proceedings, hearings, judicial review, and appeals shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, including KRS 344.240 and KRS Chapter 13B, the provisions of all of which are hereby adopted in full and incorporated herein by reference.
(4) If the City Administrator finds that a violation has occurred, he or she may recommend a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
(5) The City Administrator shall submit the final adjudication and recommended order to the City Council for approval.
(6) Upon approval by the City Council, the City Administrator shall mail a copy of the order to the complainant and respondent, postage pre-paid. The respondent shall have thirty (30) days to pay any penalty issued in the order. If the respondent does not pay the penalty within the time given, then City Council may direct the City Attorney to place a lien against the respondent's property in the office of the County Clerk where the property is located.
(7) An appeal from any final order may be made to the Bracken County District Court within thirty (30) days of the date the order is issued. The appeal shall be initiated by the filing of a complaint and a copy of the order in the same manner as any civil action under the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure. The appeal shall be tried de novo. A judgment of the district court may be appealed to the Bracken Circuit Court in accordance with the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure.
(Ord. 21-3, passed 6-16-21)