Under Washington State law, what are the functions, powers, and duties of the Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC)? Here’s my point of view.
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The functions, powers, and duties of the WSHRC are provided in both the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and may be categorized as follows:
I. The RCW Basics;
II. Advisory Agencies & Conciliation Councils;
III. Hold Hearings & Subpoena Witnesses; and
IV. The WAC Basics.
I. THE RCW BASICS
The RCW enumerates the basic WSHRC functions, powers, and duties as follows:
(1) To appoint an executive director and chief examiner, and such investigators, examiners, clerks, and other employees and agents as it may deem necessary, fix their compensation within the limitations provided by law, and prescribe their duties.
(2) To obtain upon request and utilize the services of all governmental departments and agencies.
(3) To adopt, amend, and rescind suitable rules to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and the policies and practices of the commission in connection therewith.
(4) To receive, impartially investigate, and pass upon complaints alleging unfair practices as defined in this chapter.
(5) To issue such publications and results of investigations and research as in its judgment will tend to promote good will and minimize or eliminate discrimination because of sex, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.
(6) To make such technical studies as are appropriate to effectuate the purposes and policies of this chapter and to publish and distribute the reports of such studies.
(7) To cooperate and act jointly or by division of labor with the United States or other states, with other Washington state agencies, commissions, and other government entities, and with political subdivisions of the state of Washington and their respective human rights agencies to carry out the purposes of this chapter. However, the powers which may be exercised by the commission under this subsection permit investigations and complaint dispositions only if the investigations are designed to reveal, or the complaint deals only with, allegations which, if proven, would constitute unfair practices under this chapter. The commission may perform such services for these agencies and be reimbursed therefor.
(8) To foster good relations between minority and majority population groups of the state through seminars, conferences, educational programs, and other intergroup relations activities.
RCW 49.60.120.
II. ADVISORY AGENCIES & CONCILIATION COUNCILS (RCW)
In addition, the RCW mandates WSHRC powers regarding advisory agencies and conciliation councils as follows:
[T]o create such advisory agencies and conciliation councils, local, regional, or statewide, as in its judgment will aid in effectuating the purposes of this chapter. The commission may empower them to study the problems of discrimination in all or specific fields of human relationships or in specific instances of discrimination because of sex, race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability; to foster through community effort or otherwise good will, cooperation, and conciliation among the groups and elements of the population of the state, and to make recommendations to the commission for the development of policies and procedures in general and in specific instances, and for programs of formal and informal education which the commission may recommend to the appropriate state agency.
RCW 49.60.130.
III. HOLD HEARINGS & SUBPOENA WITNESSES (RCW)
Per RCW, the WSHRC also “has power to hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, administer oaths, take the testimony of any person under oath, and in connection therewith, to require the production for examination of any books or papers relating to any matter under investigation or in question before the commission.” RCW 49.60.140.
And “[t]he commission may make rules as to the issuance of subpoenas by individual members, as to service of complaints, decisions, orders, recommendations and other process or papers of the commission, its member, agent, or agency, either personally or by registered mail, return receipt requested, or by leaving a copy thereof at the principal office or place of business of the person required to be served.” Id.
IV. THE WAC BASICS
Lastly, according to the WAC, it’s the WSHRC’s “duty to administer the law against discrimination, chapter 49.60 RCW, which has as its purpose the elimination and prevention of discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age or handicap.” Additional authority and duties include the following:
(a) Study and report on all things having an impact on human rights;
(b) Make recommendations to the governor, legislature, and agencies of state and local government;
(c) Create advisory agencies and conciliation councils;
(d) In the areas of employment, public accommodations, real property transactions, credit transactions and insurance transactions, initiate, receive and process complaints of unfair practices, hold hearings, issue orders, and seek enforcement of the orders in court.
WAC 162-04-020.
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If you would like to learn more, then consider contacting an experienced Washington State Employment Discrimination Attorney to discuss your case. Please note: the information contained in this article is not offered as legal advice and will not form an attorney-client relationship with Law Office of Gregory A. Williams; Williams Law Group; or the author of this article. Please see our DISCLAIMER.
–gw