§ 12.206. Functions, powers and duties of the Office of the Administrator.

I.

Duties and Responsibilities:

(1)

Administration/enforcement of human rights law. The Office of Human Rights is responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of Howard County Human Rights Law, including, but not limited to:

(a)

Investigating complaints of discrimination to determine whether a violation of the Howard County Human Rights Law has occurred.

(b)

Attempting to eliminate violations of the Human Rights Law by conference, conciliation and persuasion.

(2)

Reports. Subject to section 22.1000 of the County Code, the Office of Human Rights and its Administrator shall make:

(a)

Annual reports to the County Executive and the County Council providing a statistical summary of the number, type and disposition of complaints received by the Office.

(b)

Monthly reports to the Commission briefly describing the factual situation of new cases, and the status and disposition of all other cases.

The Human Rights Administrator shall make periodic reports to the County Executive, County Council and the Human Rights Commission on the Office's involvement in discrimination education programs and on the extent of its cooperate efforts with governmental and community agencies to combat discrimination.

(3)

Liaison with community. The Office of Human Rights serves as liaison with the public, government agencies and community groups to develop plans and programs to combat discrimination and assist and cooperate with other local, State and Federal agencies and officials to protect and promote better human relations. The Office of Human Rights shall work with these agencies and groups in developing educational programs, heightening public awareness of discrimination and of methods of eliminating discrimination. The Office of Human Rights shall serve as a catalyst in fostering attitudes and beliefs among Howard County citizens which confirm that all individuals have an equal opportunity to pursue their lives free of discrimination.

(4)

Executive Secretary. The Human Rights Administrator serves as Executive Secretary of the Human Rights Commission.

(5)

Rules of procedure. The Human Rights Administrator shall formulate and promulgate rules of procedure necessary to carry out the purposes of this subtitle, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act of Howard County (title 2, subtitle 1 of this Code).

(6)

Other duties and responsibilities. The Office of Human Rights and its Administrator shall perform the statutory duties set forth in this subtitle. The Office of Human Rights shall perform such other functions as may be prescribed by directive of the County Executive or by law.

(C.B. 2, 1983; C.B. 6, 1992; C.B. 43, 2018, § 1)