BILL NUMBER: SB 381	CHAPTERED  07/16/01

	CHAPTER  66
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 16, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 16, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JUNE 28, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  MAY 3, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 26, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Chesbro

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2001

   An act to amend Sections 50262, 50264, and 50265 of the Government
Code, relating to local human relations commissions.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 381, Chesbro.  Cities and counties:  human relations
commissions.
   Existing law authorizes cities and counties to create commissions
on human relations with the responsibility to, among other things,
foster mutual respect and understanding among all racial, religious,
and nationality groups in the community, inquire into incidents of
tension and conflict among or between these groups, hold conferences
and other public meetings in the interest of resolution of these
tensions, and enlist the cooperation and participation of these
groups and others as specified to foster mutual esteem, justice, and
equity.
   This bill would change the groups identified in these provisions
to include 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 PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 50262 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   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.
  SEC. 2.  Section 50264 of the Government Code is amended to read:
   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.
  SEC. 3.  Section 50265 of the Government Code is amended to read:
   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.