§ 28-5-13 - Powers and duties of commission.
SECTION 28-5-13
§ 28-5-13 Powers and duties of commission.– The commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To establish and maintain a principal office in the cityof Providence, Rhode Island, and any other offices within the state that it maydeem necessary.
(2) To meet and function at any place within the state.
(3) To appoint any attorneys, clerks, and other employees andagents that it may deem necessary, fix their compensation within thelimitations provided by law, and prescribe their duties. The provisions ofchapter 4 of title 36 shall not apply to this chapter.
(4) To adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind rules andregulations to effectuate the provisions of this chapter, and the policies andpractice of the commission in connection with this chapter.
(5) To formulate policies to effectuate the purposes of thischapter.
(6) To receive, investigate, and pass upon charges ofunlawful employment practices.
(7) In connection with any investigation or hearing heldpursuant to the provisions of this chapter, to hold hearings, subpoenawitnesses, compel their attendance, administer oaths, take the testimony of anyperson under oath, and, in connection with the investigation or hearing, torequire the production for examination of any books and papers relating to anymatter under investigation or in question before the commission.
(ii) The commission may make rules as to the issuance ofsubpoenas by individual commissioners.
(iii) Contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena issued pursuantto this section shall constitute a contempt punishable, upon the application ofthe commission, by the superior court in the county in which the hearing isheld or in which the witness resides or transacts business.
(8) Utilize voluntary and uncompensated services of privateindividuals and organizations as may from time to time be offered and needed.
(9) Create any advisory agencies and conciliation councils,local or statewide, that will aid in effectuating the purposes of this chapter.The commission may itself, or it may empower these agencies and councils to:
(A) Study the problems of discrimination in all or specificfields of human relationships when based on race or color, religion, sex,sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, or countryof ancestral origin, and
(B) Foster through community effort or otherwise good willamong the groups and elements of the population of the state.
(ii) The agencies and councils may make recommendations tothe commission for the development of policies and procedure in general.
(iii) Advisory agencies and conciliation councils created bythe commission shall be composed of representative citizens serving withoutpay, but with reimbursement for actual and necessary traveling expenses.
(10) Issue any publications and any results of investigationsand research that in its judgment will tend to promote good will and minimizeor eliminate discrimination based on race or color, religion, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, or country ofancestral origin.
(11) From time to time, but not less than once a year, reportto the legislature and the governor, describing the investigations,proceedings, and hearings the commission has conducted and their outcome, thedecisions it has rendered, and the other work performed by it, and makerecommendations for any further legislation, concerning abuses anddiscrimination based on race or color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,gender identity or expression, disability, age or country of ancestral origin,that may be desirable.