§ 2-185. Human Relations Commission; purpose.

(a)

It shall be a function of the County government to foster and encourage the growth and development of the County in such a manner that all persons shall have an equal opportunity to pursue their lives free of discrimination imposed because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, occupation, marital status, political opinion, personal appearance, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, or familial status. Discriminatory practices based upon the foregoing criteria are declared to be contrary to the public policy of the County.

(b)

The County government shall direct its efforts and resources toward eliminating discriminatory practices within the County in the areas of housing, employment, law enforcement, education, public accommodations, commercial real estate, and any other facets of the lives of its citizens where such practices may be found to exist.

(c)

It is intended that the prohibitions in this Division are substantially similar, but not necessarily identical, to prohibitions in federal and State law. The intent is to assure that a complaint filed under this Division may proceed more promptly than possible under either federal or State law. It is not County policy, however, to create a duplicative or cumulative process to those existing under similar or identical federal or State laws. Once a complaint is fully adjudicated under a similar or identical federal or State law, the complaint should not be reprocessed under this Division if the effect is duplicative or cumulative.

(CB-1-1972; CB-48-1976; CB-30-1990; CB-23-1991)