213.030. Powers and duties of commission--rulemaking, procedure. - Missouri Statutes

Powers and duties of commission--rulemaking, procedure.

213.030. 1. The powers and duties of the commission shall be:

(1) To seek to eliminate and prevent discrimination because of race,color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age as it relates toemployment, disability, or familial status as it relates to housing and totake other actions against discrimination because of race, color, religion,national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, or familial status asprovided by law; and the commission is hereby given general jurisdiction andpower for such purposes;

(2) To implement the purposes of this chapter first by conference,conciliation and persuasion so that persons may be guaranteed their civilrights and goodwill be fostered;

(3) To formulate policies to implement the purposes of this chapter andto make recommendations to agencies and officers of the state and politicalsubdivisions in aid of such policies and purposes;

(4) To appoint such employees as it may deem necessary, fix theircompensation within the appropriations provided and in accordance with thewage structure established for other state agencies, and prescribe theirduties;

(5) To obtain upon request and utilize the services of all governmentaldepartments and agencies to be paid from appropriations to this commission;

(6) To adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind suitable rules andregulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter and the policies andpractices of the commission in connection therewith;

(7) To receive, investigate, initiate, and pass upon complaints allegingdiscrimination in employment, housing or in places of public accommodationsbecause of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age as itrelates to employment, disability, or familial status as it relates to housingand to require the production for examination of any books, papers, records,or other materials relating to any matter under investigation;

(8) To hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance,administer oaths, to take the testimony of any person under oath, and, inconnection therewith, to require the production for examination of any books,papers or other materials relating to any matter under investigation or inquestion before the commission;

(9) To issue publications and the results of studies and research whichwill tend to promote goodwill and minimize or eliminate discrimination inhousing, employment or in places of public accommodation because of race,color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age as it relates toemployment, disability, or familial status as it relates to housing;

(10) To provide each year to the governor and to the general assembly afull written report of all its activities and of its recommendations;

(11) To adopt an official seal;

(12) To cooperate, act jointly, enter into cooperative or work-sharingagreements with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, theUnited States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other federalagencies and local commissions or agencies to achieve the purposes of thischapter;

(13) To accept grants, private gifts, bequests, and establish funds todispose of such moneys so long as the conditions of the grant, gift, orbequest are not inconsistent with the purposes of this chapter and are used toachieve the purposes of this chapter;

(14) To establish a human rights fund as defined in section 213.010, forthe purposes of administering sections 213.040, 213.045, 213.050, 213.070,213.075, and 213.076.

2. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of thischapter shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to theprovisions of section 536.024, RSMo.

(L. 1959 H.B. 266 § 4, A.L. 1978 H.B. 949 & 1266, A.L. 1986 S.B. 513, A.L. 1992 H.B. 1619, A.L. 1993 S.B. 52, A.L. 1995 S.B. 3, A.L. 1998 S.B. 786)

(1998) Statute grants commission power to issue investigatory subpoenas duces tecum. Gerlach v. Missouri Commission on Human Rights, 980 S.W.2d 589 (E.D.Mo.).