Bill Text: VA HB11 | 2020 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Human Rights, Division of; duties.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-02-11 - Continued to 2021 in General Laws [HB11 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB11-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§2.2-520 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§2.2-520. Division of Human Rights created; duties.
A. There is created in the Department of Law a Division of Human Rights (the Division) to assist in the prevention of and relief from alleged unlawful discriminatory practices.
B. The duties of the Division shall be to:
1. Receive, and investigate, seek or
refer to another agency all complaints alleging unlawful discriminatory
practices that are filed within the applicable statute of limitations period
and allege a wrongdoing covered under the Virginia Human Rights Act (§2.2-3900
et seq.);
2. Seek to conciliate, refer to another agency,
hold hearings pursuant to the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§2.2-4000
et seq.), and make findings and recommendations upon complaints alleging
unlawful discriminatory practices under the Virginia Human Rights Act (§
2.2-3900 et seq.);
2. 3. Adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind
regulations consistent with this article pursuant to the Virginia
Administrative Process Act (§2.2-4000 et seq.). However, the Division shall
not have the authority to adopt regulations on a substantive matter when
another state agency is authorized to adopt such regulations;
3. 4. Inquire into incidents that may constitute
unlawful acts of discrimination or unfounded charges of unlawful discrimination
under state or federal law and take such action within the Division's authority
designed to prevent such acts;
4. 5. Seek through appropriate enforcement
authorities, prevention of or relief from an alleged unlawful discriminatory
practice;
5. 6. Appoint and compensate qualified hearing
officers from the list of hearing officers maintained by the Executive
Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia;
6. 7. Promote creation of local commissions to
aid in effectuating the policies of this article and to enter into cooperative
worksharing or other agreements with federal agencies or local commissions,
including the deferral of complaints of discrimination to federal agencies or
local commissions;
7. 8. Make studies and appoint advisory councils
to effectuate the purposes and policies of the article and to make the results
thereof available to the public;
8. 9. Accept public grants or private gifts,
bequests, or other payments, as appropriate; and
9. 10. Furnish technical assistance upon request
of persons subject to this article to further comply with the article or an
order issued thereunder.
