Bill Text: CT HB05516 | 2018 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

Connecticut House Bill 5516 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Responsibilities And Funding Of The Commission On Human Rights.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-04-19 - File Number 589 [HB05516 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2018-HB05516-Comm_Sub.html

General Assembly		*Substitute Bill No. 5516*
*February Session, 2018*		_____HB05516JUD___040418____

AN ACT CONCERNING THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNDING OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 46a-55 of the general statutes is amended by adding subsections (c) and (d) as follows (Effective October 1, 2018):

(NEW) (c) The executive director, through the supervising attorney, may assign a commission legal counsel to represent the interests of the state in any suit or other proceeding in which civil or human rights are at issue. Commission legal counsel may intervene as a matter of right in any such suit or proceeding without permission of the parties, the presiding officer or the court.

(NEW) (d) The executive director, through the supervising attorney, may, within available appropriations, assign a commission legal counsel to bring a civil action, in accordance with this subsection, in lieu of an administrative hearing pursuant to section 46a-84, as amended by this act, when the executive director determines that a civil action is in the public interest and if the parties to the administrative hearing mutually agree, in writing, to the bringing of such civil action by commission legal counsel. The commission legal counsel shall bring such a civil action in the Superior Court not later than ninety days following the date the commission legal counsel notifies the parties of the executive director's determination. Such civil action may be served by certified mail and shall not be subject to the provisions of section 46a-100, 46a-101 or 46a-102. The jurisdiction of the Superior Court in an action brought under this subsection shall be limited to such claims, counterclaims, defenses or the like that could be presented at an administrative hearing before the commission, had the complaint remained with the commission for disposition. A complainant may intervene as a matter of right without permission of the court or the parties. The civil action shall be tried to the court without a jury. If the commission legal counsel determines that the interests of the state will not be adversely affected, the complainant or attorney for the complainant shall present all or part of the case in support of the complaint. The court may grant any relief available under section 46a-104. Where the Superior Court finds that a respondent has committed a discriminatory practice, the court shall grant the commission its fees and costs and award the commission a civil penalty, not exceeding ten thousand dollars, which shall be payable to the commission and used by the commission to advance the public interest in eliminating discrimination.

Sec. 2. Section 46a-84 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):

(a) If the investigator fails to eliminate a discriminatory practice complained of pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of section 46a-82 within fifty days of a finding of reasonable cause, the investigator shall, within ten days, certify the complaint and the results of the investigation to the executive director of the commission and to the Attorney General. The investigator's conclusion that conciliation has failed shall be conclusive on the issue.

(b) Upon (1) certification of a complaint filed pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of section 46a-82, (2) the filing of a complaint pursuant to subsection (c) of said section, or (3) a decision to hear a complaint, which is made pursuant to subsection (e) of section 46a-83, the Chief Human Rights Referee shall appoint a human rights referee to act as a presiding officer to hear the complaint. The chief referee shall also appoint an individual authorized by subsection (e) of this section or a referee, other than the referee appointed to hear the complaint, to conduct settlement negotiations. The chief referee shall serve in the name of the commission a copy of the complaint, as the same may have been amended, requiring the respondent to answer the charges of the complaint, together with a written notice requiring the respondent to appear at a hearing or settlement conference at a date and time specified in the notice. A hearing on a complaint filed pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of section 46a-82 shall be commenced by convening a hearing conference not later than forty-five days after the certification of the complaint. Such hearing shall be a de novo hearing on the merits of the complaint and not an appeal of the commission's processing of the complaint prior to its certification. A hearing on a complaint filed pursuant to subsection (c) of section 46a-82 shall be commenced by convening a hearing conference not later than twenty days after the date of notice of such complaint. Hearings shall proceed with reasonable dispatch and be concluded in accordance with the provisions of section 4-180.

(c) The place of any hearing, hearing conference or settlement conference shall be the commission's administrative office in Hartford, unless all parties mutually agree to an alternate location.

(d) The case in support of the complaint shall be presented at the hearing by the Attorney General, who shall be counsel for the commission, or by a commission legal counsel as provided in section 46a-55, as amended by this act. If the Attorney General or the commission legal counsel determines that a material mistake of law or fact has been made in the finding of reasonable cause on a complaint filed pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of section 46a-82, or the commission legal counsel determines that a complaint to be heard pursuant to subsection (e) of section 46a-83, should be further investigated, the Attorney General or the commission legal counsel may withdraw the certification of the complaint or the decision to hear the complaint and remand the file to the investigator for further action. The investigator shall complete any required action not later than ninety days after receipt of such file. The complainant may be represented by an attorney of the complainant's own choice. If the Attorney General or the commission legal counsel determines that the interests of the state will not be adversely affected, the complainant or the attorney for the complainant shall present all or part of the case in support of the complaint. No commissioner may participate in the deliberations of the presiding officer in the case.

(e) A human rights referee or attorney who volunteers service pursuant to subdivision (18) of section 46a-54 may supervise settlement endeavors. In employment discrimination cases only, the complainant and respondent, with the permission of the chief referee, may engage in alternate dispute resolution endeavors for not more than three months. The cost of such alternate dispute resolution endeavors shall be borne by the complainant or the respondent, or both, and not by the commission. Any endeavors or negotiations for conciliation, settlement or alternate dispute resolution shall not be received in evidence.

(f) The respondent shall file a written answer to the complaint under oath and appear at the hearing in person or otherwise, with or without counsel, and submit testimony and be fully heard. If the respondent fails to file a written answer not later than fifteen days after the date of service of the complaint, or fails to appear at the hearing, hearing conference or settlement conference after notice in accordance with section 4-177, the presiding officer or a referee or an attorney who volunteers services pursuant to subsection (e) of this section may enter an order of default and order such relief as is necessary to eliminate the discriminatory practice and make the complainant whole, except that if the default was entered by an attorney who volunteers services pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, the chief referee shall appoint a referee to act as a presiding officer to award relief. The commission or the complainant may petition the Superior Court for enforcement of any such order for relief pursuant to section 46a-95.

(g) The presiding officer conducting any hearing shall permit reasonable amendment to any complaint or answer and the testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and be transcribed at the request of any party.

(h) Each party shall be afforded the opportunity to inspect and copy relevant and material records, papers and documents not in the possession of such party, except as otherwise provided by applicable state or federal law. The presiding officer may order a party to produce such records, papers and documents, and if a party fails to comply with such order within thirty days of the date of such order, the presiding officer may issue a nonmonetary order that the presiding officer deems just and appropriate, including, but not limited to, an order (1) finding that the matters that are the subject of the order are established in accordance with the claim of the party requesting such order, (2) prohibiting the party who has failed to comply with such order from introducing designated matters into evidence, (3) limiting the participation of the noncomplying party with regard to issues or facts relating to the order, and (4) drawing an adverse inference against the noncomplying party.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2018) (a) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 50 of the general statutes, the appropriations recommended for the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities shall be the estimates of expenditure requirements transmitted to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management by the executive director of the commission and the recommended adjustments and revisions of such estimates shall be the recommended adjustments and revisions, if any, transmitted by said executive director to the Office of Policy and Management.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-85 of the general statutes, the Governor shall not reduce allotment requisitions or allotments in force concerning the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.


This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2018	46a-55
Sec. 2	October 1, 2018	46a-84
Sec. 3	October 1, 2018	New section