The commission shall have the following powers and duties:
A. To receive, investigate, mediate and determine the merits of charges or complaints alleging unfair or discriminatory practices, as provided in this chapter and title 5, chapter 3 of this code.
B. To investigate and study the existence, character, causes and extent of discrimination in public accommodations, employment, apprenticeship programs, on the job training programs, vocational schools, credit practices, and housing in the city and to attempt the elimination of such discrimination by education and conciliation. (2008 Code § 8-15)
C. To issue such publications and reports of investigations and research as, in the judgment of the commission, shall tend to promote goodwill among the various racial, religious, and ethnic groups of the city and which shall tend to minimize or eliminate discrimination in public accommodations, employment, apprenticeship and on the job training programs, vocational schools, or housing because of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, ancestry, or disability. (2008 Code § 8-15; amd. 2015 Code)
D. To prepare and transmit to the mayor and the council from time to time, but not less often than once each year, reports describing its proceedings, investigations, hearings conducted and the outcome thereof, decisions rendered, and the other work performed by the commission.
E. To make recommendations to the mayor and the council for such further legislation concerning discrimination as it may deem necessary and desirable.
F. To cooperate, within the limits of any appropriations made for its operation, with other agencies or organizations, both public and private, whose purposes are consistent with those of this chapter and title 5, chapter 3 of this code, and in the planning and conducting of programs designed to eliminate racial, religious, cultural and intergroup tensions.
G. To adopt, publish, amend, and rescind regulations consistent with and necessary for the enforcement of this chapter and title 5, chapter 3 of this code.
H. To receive, administer, dispense and account for any funds that may be voluntarily contributed to the commission and any grants that may be awarded the commission for furthering the purposes of this chapter and title 5, chapter 3 of this code.
I. To defer a complaint to any other civil rights commission asserting jurisdiction or already processing the complaint, to refer to the state any complaint in which the city, its employees or agents are a respondent, or any other referral as may be agreed upon by the complainant and respondent.
J. To issue subpoenas and order discovery as provided by this section in aid of investigations and hearings of alleged discrimination. The subpoenas and discovery may be ordered to the same extent and are subject to the same limitations as subpoenas and discovery in a civil action in district court.
K. To defer proceedings and refer a complaint to a local commission that has been recognized by the United States department of housing and urban development as having adopted ordinances providing fair housing rights and remedies that are substantially equivalent to those granted under federal law.
L. To utilize volunteers to aid in the conduct of the commission's business including case processing functions such as intake, screening, investigation, and mediation. (2008 Code § 8-15)