A county may enact an ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing, real estate transactions, employment, public accommodations, credit and education on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, marital status or disability. The board may enact an ordinance establishing a local commission on human rights which shall have the following powers and duties:
1. To promote policies to ensure that all persons be afforded equal opportunity;
2. To serve as an agency for receiving, investigating, holding hearings, processing and assisting in the voluntary resolution of complaints regarding discriminatory practices occurring within the county; and
3. With the approval of the county attorney, to seek, through appropriate enforcement authorities, prevention of or relief from a violation of any ordinance prohibiting discrimination and to exercise such other powers and duties as provided in this article. However, the commission shall have no power itself to issue subpoenas, award damages or grant injunctive relief.
For the purposes of this article, “person” means one or more individuals, labor unions, partnerships, corporations, associations, legal representatives, mutual companies, joint-stock companies, trusts or unincorporated organizations.
History
1986, c. 495, § 15.1-783.1; 1989, c. 355; 1997, cc. 404, 587.
