Laserfiche WebLink
records, papers, and information in their possession relating to any matter before the <br />Commission. <br />(e) Receive and investigate charges of discriminatory practices. The Commission shall not hold <br />hearings in the absence of a charge as herein defined. All investigations of charges shall be <br />conducted by staff members of the Commission. <br />(f) Issue such publications and such results of investigations and research as in its judgment will <br />tend to minimize or eliminate discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, <br />national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation or gender identity in the matter of employment, or <br />familial status in the case of housing. <br />(g) Prepare and issue a report annually to the Common Council and Mayor, describing in detail <br />the investigation and conciliation proceedings it has conducted and their outcome, the progress <br />made and any other work performed and achievements towards the elimination of <br />discrimination. <br />(h) Prevent any person from discharging, expelling or otherwise discriminating against any <br />other person because he filed a charge or has testified in any hearing before this Commission, or <br />has in any way assisted the Commission in any matter under investigation. <br />(i) Appoint hearing officers, hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, <br />administer oaths, take the testimony of any such person under oath, and require the production <br />for examination of any books and papers relating to any matter under investigation or in question <br />before the Commission. The Commission shall have the exclusive power to subpoena, but it shall <br />consult with the Department of Law concerning the issuance of a subpoena. The Department of <br />Law may veto the issuance of a subpoena if and only if such an issuance would be an abuse of <br />the Commission's subpoena power. Abuse of the Commission's subpoena power shall include but <br />not be limited to use of such subpoena power for harassment purposes, issuance of a subpoena <br />for information clearly irrelevant to the investigation being conducted, and issuance of a <br />subpoena for information over an excessively broad span of time. Contumacy or refusal to obey <br />a subpoena issued pursuant to this section shall constitute a contempt. All hearings shall be held <br />within the City of South Bend at a location determined by the Commission. A citation of <br />contempt may be issued upon application by the Commission to the circuit or superior court, or <br />judge thereof, in the County in which the hearing is held or in which the witness resides or <br />transacts business. <br />(1) The Commission shall state its finding of fact after a hearing, and, if the <br />Commission finds a person has engaged in an unlawful discriminatory practice, it may <br />cause to be served on such person an order requiring such person to cease and desist from <br />the unlawful discriminatory practice and requiring such person to take further affirmative <br />action as will effectuate the purposes of this article, including but not limited to the power <br />to restore charging party's losses incurred as a result of discriminatory treatment, as the <br />Commission may deem necessary to assure justice. The Commission may require the <br />posting of notice setting forth the public policy of Indiana concerning civil rights and the <br />12 <br />