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Article 1. The Department of California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 2.8. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 1.
The department shall have the following functions, powers,
and duties:
(a) To establish and maintain a principal office and any other offices within the state as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this part.
(b) To meet and function at any place within the state.
(c) To appoint attorneys, investigators, conciliators, mediators, and other employees as it may deem necessary, fix their compensation within the limitations provided by law, and prescribe their duties.
(d) To obtain upon request and utilize the services of all governmental departments and agencies and, in addition, with respect to housing discrimination, of conciliation councils.
(e) To adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind suitable procedural rules and regulations to carry out the investigation, prosecution, and dispute resolution functions and duties of the department pursuant to this part.
(f) (1) To receive, investigate, conciliate, mediate, and prosecute complaints alleging practices made unlawful pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 12940).
(2) To receive, investigate, conciliate, mediate, and prosecute complaints alleging a violation of Section 51, 51.5, 51.7, 54, 54.1, or 54.2 of the Civil Code. The remedies and procedures of this part shall be independent of any other remedy or procedure that might apply.
(g) In connection with any matter under investigation or in question before the department pursuant to a complaint filed under Section 12960, 12961, or 12980:
(1) To issue subpoenas to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, records, documents, and physical materials.
(2) To administer oaths, examine witnesses under oath and take evidence, and take depositions and affidavits.
(3) To issue written interrogatories.
(4) To request the production for inspection and copying of books, records, documents, and physical materials.
(5) To petition the superior courts to compel the appearance and testimony of witnesses, the production of books, records, documents, and physical materials, and the answering of interrogatories.
(h) To bring civil actions pursuant to Section 12965 or 12981 and to prosecute those civil actions before state and federal trial courts.
(i) To issue those publications and those results of investigations and research as in its judgment will tend to promote good will and minimize or eliminate discrimination in employment on the bases enumerated in this part and discrimination in housing because of race, religious creed, color, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, disability, genetic information, or sexual orientation.
(j) To investigate, approve, certify, decertify, monitor, and enforce nondiscrimination programs proposed by a contractor to be engaged in pursuant to Section 12990.
(k) To render annually to the Governor and to the Legislature a written report of its activities and of its recommendations.
(l) To conduct mediations at any time after a complaint is filed pursuant to Section 12960, 12961, or 12980. The department may end mediation at any time.
(m) The following shall apply with respect to any accusation pending before the former Fair Employment and Housing Commission on or after January 1, 2013:
(1) If an accusation issued under former Section 12965 includes a prayer either for damages for emotional injuries as a component of actual damages, or for administrative fines, or both, or if an accusation is amended for the purpose of adding a prayer either for damages for emotional injuries as a component of actual damages, or for administrative fines, or both, with the consent of the party accused of engaging in unlawful practices, the department may withdraw an accusation and bring a civil action in superior court.
(2) If an accusation was issued under former Section 12981, with the consent of the aggrieved party filing the complaint an aggrieved person on whose behalf a complaint is filed, or the party accused of engaging in unlawful practices, the department may withdraw the accusation and bring a civil action in superior court.
(3) Where removal to court is not feasible, the department shall retain the services of the Office of Administrative Hearings to adjudicate the administrative action pursuant to Sections 11370.3 and 11502.
(n) On any Section 1094.5 Code of Civil Procedure challenge to a decision of the former Fair Employment and Housing Commission pending on or after January 1, 2013, the director or his or her designee shall consult with the Attorney General regarding the defense of that writ petition.
(a) To establish and maintain a principal office and any other offices within the state as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this part.
(b) To meet and function at any place within the state.
(c) To appoint attorneys, investigators, conciliators, mediators, and other employees as it may deem necessary, fix their compensation within the limitations provided by law, and prescribe their duties.
(d) To obtain upon request and utilize the services of all governmental departments and agencies and, in addition, with respect to housing discrimination, of conciliation councils.
(e) To adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind suitable procedural rules and regulations to carry out the investigation, prosecution, and dispute resolution functions and duties of the department pursuant to this part.
(f) (1) To receive, investigate, conciliate, mediate, and prosecute complaints alleging practices made unlawful pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 12940).
(2) To receive, investigate, conciliate, mediate, and prosecute complaints alleging a violation of Section 51, 51.5, 51.7, 54, 54.1, or 54.2 of the Civil Code. The remedies and procedures of this part shall be independent of any other remedy or procedure that might apply.
(g) In connection with any matter under investigation or in question before the department pursuant to a complaint filed under Section 12960, 12961, or 12980:
(1) To issue subpoenas to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, records, documents, and physical materials.
(2) To administer oaths, examine witnesses under oath and take evidence, and take depositions and affidavits.
(3) To issue written interrogatories.
(4) To request the production for inspection and copying of books, records, documents, and physical materials.
(5) To petition the superior courts to compel the appearance and testimony of witnesses, the production of books, records, documents, and physical materials, and the answering of interrogatories.
(h) To bring civil actions pursuant to Section 12965 or 12981 and to prosecute those civil actions before state and federal trial courts.
(i) To issue those publications and those results of investigations and research as in its judgment will tend to promote good will and minimize or eliminate discrimination in employment on the bases enumerated in this part and discrimination in housing because of race, religious creed, color, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, disability, genetic information, or sexual orientation.
(j) To investigate, approve, certify, decertify, monitor, and enforce nondiscrimination programs proposed by a contractor to be engaged in pursuant to Section 12990.
(k) To render annually to the Governor and to the Legislature a written report of its activities and of its recommendations.
(l) To conduct mediations at any time after a complaint is filed pursuant to Section 12960, 12961, or 12980. The department may end mediation at any time.
(m) The following shall apply with respect to any accusation pending before the former Fair Employment and Housing Commission on or after January 1, 2013:
(1) If an accusation issued under former Section 12965 includes a prayer either for damages for emotional injuries as a component of actual damages, or for administrative fines, or both, or if an accusation is amended for the purpose of adding a prayer either for damages for emotional injuries as a component of actual damages, or for administrative fines, or both, with the consent of the party accused of engaging in unlawful practices, the department may withdraw an accusation and bring a civil action in superior court.
(2) If an accusation was issued under former Section 12981, with the consent of the aggrieved party filing the complaint an aggrieved person on whose behalf a complaint is filed, or the party accused of engaging in unlawful practices, the department may withdraw the accusation and bring a civil action in superior court.
(3) Where removal to court is not feasible, the department shall retain the services of the Office of Administrative Hearings to adjudicate the administrative action pursuant to Sections 11370.3 and 11502.
(n) On any Section 1094.5 Code of Civil Procedure challenge to a decision of the former Fair Employment and Housing Commission pending on or after January 1, 2013, the director or his or her designee shall consult with the Attorney General regarding the defense of that writ petition.
The department may also provide assistance to communities
and persons therein in resolving disputes, disagreements, or
difficulties relating to discriminatory practices based on race,
religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical
disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic
information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender
expression, familial status, age, or sexual orientation that impair
the rights of persons in those communities under the Constitution or
laws of the United States or of this state. The services of the
department may be made available in cases of these disputes,
disagreements, or difficulties only when, in its judgment, peaceful
relations among the citizens of the community involved are threatened
thereby. The department's services are to be made available only
upon the request of an appropriate state or local public body, or
upon the request of any person directly affected by any such dispute,
disagreement, or difficulty.
The assistance of the department pursuant to this section shall be
limited to endeavors at investigation, conference, conciliation, and
persuasion.
(a) The Legislature recognizes that the avoidance of
discriminatory practices in the employment of disabled persons is
most effectively achieved through the ongoing efforts of state
agencies involved in the vocational rehabilitation and job placement
of the disabled. The department may utilize the efforts and
experience of the Department of Rehabilitation in the development of
job opportunities for the disabled by requesting the Department of
Rehabilitation to foster good will and to conciliate on employment
policies with employers who, in the judgment of the department, have
employment practices or policies that discriminate against disabled
persons. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall be construed to
transfer any of the functions, powers, or duties from the department
to the Department of Rehabilitation.
(b) The activities of the department in providing conciliation assistance shall be conducted in confidence and without publicity, and the department shall hold confidential any information acquired in the regular performance of its duties upon the understanding that it would be so held.
(c) No employee of the department shall engage in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions of any department or agency in any litigation arising out of a dispute in which he or she acted on behalf of the department. Any employee of the department, who makes public in any manner whatever any information in violation of this subdivision, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, if a member of the state civil service, shall be subject to disciplinary action under the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2).
(d) When contacted by the department, employers, labor organizations, or employment agencies shall be informed whether a particular discussion, or portion thereof, constitutes either of the following:
(1) Endeavors at conference, conciliation, and persuasion which may not be disclosed by the department or received in evidence in any formal hearing or court action.
(2) Investigative processes, which are not so protected.
(b) The activities of the department in providing conciliation assistance shall be conducted in confidence and without publicity, and the department shall hold confidential any information acquired in the regular performance of its duties upon the understanding that it would be so held.
(c) No employee of the department shall engage in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions of any department or agency in any litigation arising out of a dispute in which he or she acted on behalf of the department. Any employee of the department, who makes public in any manner whatever any information in violation of this subdivision, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, if a member of the state civil service, shall be subject to disciplinary action under the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2).
(d) When contacted by the department, employers, labor organizations, or employment agencies shall be informed whether a particular discussion, or portion thereof, constitutes either of the following:
(1) Endeavors at conference, conciliation, and persuasion which may not be disclosed by the department or received in evidence in any formal hearing or court action.
(2) Investigative processes, which are not so protected.
The department shall maintain liaison with the human
relations commissions of cities, counties, and any city and county,
and shall provide any information not designated by law as
confidential to such commissions on request.
