SECTIONS 50260-50265 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 50260-50265

50260. The purpose of this article is to promote the establishment
in counties and cities and counties throughout the state of
commissions designed to foster peaceful relations in the interest of
preserving the public peace among residents of different races,
religions, national origins, and the other characteristics listed or
defined in Section 11135.

50261. It is hereby found that the promotion of positive human
relations for the purpose of insuring public peace, health, safety,
and general welfare of all the people of this State is a principal
governmental concern and responsibility, and counties and cities and
counties are hereby authorized to expend public funds to attain these
objectives.

50262. The governing body of any city or county may, by ordinance,
create a commission on human relations. The governing body shall
determine the number of members of the commission, the terms of the
members, the manner of appointment of the members, the selection of a
chairperson and the compensation, if any, to be paid to them. In
selecting the membership of the commission, the governing body shall
take into consideration, among other things, people from groups of
various race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry,
physical disability, mental disability, marital status, gender,
sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or civic interest, and
people from other groups subject to prejudice and discrimination. The
establishment of a commission at one level of local government shall
not preclude establishment of a commission at other levels of local
government.

50263. The governing body may assign personnel to the commission or
permit the commission to employ an executive director, a secretary,
and such attorneys, experts and other employees as may be necessary,
within the amount made available by the local governing body and to
accept and expend funds from private, as well as public, sources.
Each city and county is hereby authorized and empowered to make such
appropriation for such expenses and for the compensation, if any, to
be paid to the members of the commission.

50264. It shall be the responsibility of the commission:
(a) To foster mutual respect and understanding among all people,
including people subject to prejudice and discrimination due to race,
religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical
disability, mental disability, marital status, gender, sexual
orientation, socioeconomic status, civic interest, or any other
factors.
(b) To make any studies in any field of human relationship in the
community as in the judgment of the commission will aid in
effectuating its general purposes.
(c) To inquire into incidents of tension and conflict among or
between people, including people subject to prejudice and
discrimination due to race, religious creed, color, national origin,
ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, marital status,
gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, civic interest, or
any other factors, and to take action by means of conciliation,
conference, and persuasion to alleviate those tensions and conflict.
(d) To conduct and recommend any educational programs as, in the
judgment of the commission, will increase good will among inhabitants
of the community and open new opportunities into all phases of
community life for all inhabitants.

50265. A commission on human relations created under the provisions
of Section 50262 shall discharge the following obligations:
(a) To hold conferences, and other public meetings, in the
interest of the constructive resolution of tensions, prejudice, and
discrimination among or between groups of people, including people
subject to prejudice and discrimination due to race, religious creed,
color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental
disability, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic
status, civic interest, or any other factors.
(b) To issue any publications and reports of investigation as in
its judgment will tend to effectuate the purposes of this article.
(c) To enlist the cooperation and participation of a variety of
people, including people subject to prejudice and discrimination due
to race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical
disability, mental disability, marital status, gender, sexual
orientation, socioeconomic status, civic interest, or any other
factors, industry and labor organizations, media or mass
communication, fraternal and benevolent associations, and other
groups in an educational campaign devoted to fostering among the
diverse groups of the community mutual esteem, justice and equity.
(d) To encourage and stimulate agencies under the jurisdiction of
the local governing body that created the commission to take any
action as will fulfill the purposes of this article.
(e) To submit an annual report to the governing body.