(a) The Executive Director appointed under Section 1A-204(a) heads the Office of Human Rights and must assist the Commission to implement this Article.
(b) (1) The County Executive may assign additional staff to assist the Commission in carrying out this article. The Commission may, with the approval of the County Executive, engage the services of volunteer workers and volunteer consultants, who, subject to appropriations, may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in performing volunteer services. Services of an individual as a volunteer worker or consultant must not be considered as service of employment in any merit system of the county or state.
(2) If the Commission and the county attorney determine that a representational conflict exists within the county attorney's office, then the county attorney may employ special legal counsel to represent the Commission after consultation with the Commission and approval by the County Council.
(3) The director may receive sworn complaints alleging discrimination that violates this chapter.
(4) Before a complaint is certified to the Commission under Sections 27-7(f)(2) or (g)(4), the director may investigate, resolve, or conciliate the complaint.
(5) The director may issue regulations under method (2) to carry out the responsibilities of the director and the Office of Human Rights under this article.
(6) The director must carry out any other duties described in this Chapter.
(c) In proposing a budget for the operation of the Commission and in selecting other personnel and facilities, the County Executive and the County Council must seek and consider the recommendations of the Commission.
(d) The Office of Human Rights must educate County residents about discriminatory lending practices through the use of literature, counseling, educational workshops, or public fora. The Office may work with the Commission for Women, the Office of Consumer Protection, and any other government or non-government agency or organization to identify that educate the public about discriminatory lending practices.*
*Editor’s note—Paragraph (d) of Sec. 27-4 was added by 2005 L.M.C., ch. 29, § 2 (Bill 36-04). However, in American Financial Services, et. al. v. Montgomery County, (Civil Action No. 269105), the Court declared Bill 36-04 “null and void” by order dated 11/30/06.
(Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 77-3; Ord. No. 6-56; 1969 L.M.C., ch. 33, § 1; 1972 L.M.C., ch. 21, § 1; 1977 L.M.C., ch.30, § 1; 1984 L.M.C., ch. 26, § 3; 1986 L.M.C., ch. 37, § 3; 2001 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1; 2005 L.M.C., ch. 29, § 2; 2006 L.M.C., ch. 33, § 1; 2007 L.M.C, ch. 5, § 1.)
Editor's note—The above section is mentioned in Broadcast Equities v. Montgomery County, 123 Md. App. 363, 718 A.2d 648 (1998), vacated, Montgomery County v. Broadcast Equities, Inc., 360 Md. 438, 758 A.2d 995 (2000) (Broadcast Equities, Inc. failed to exhaust its administrative remedies before the Human Relations Commission).
2007 L.M.C., ch. 5, § 2, states: Affect on incumbents. If on the effective date of this Act [May 28, 2007] a merit system employee occupies a position which this Act converts to a non-merit position:
(a) that employee retains all merit system rights; and
(b) the position does not become a non-merit position until that employee leaves the position through transfer, promotion, demotion, retirement, or other separation from service.