"PENNSYLVANIA HUMAN RELATIONS ACT"

Act of 1955, P.L. 744, No. 222
AS AMENDED JULY 12, 1996
BY ACT 117 OF 1996

AN ACT

Prohibiting certain practices of discrimination because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor organizations and others as herein defined; creating the Pennsylvania Human Relations commission in the Governor's Office; defining its functions, powers and duties; providing for procedure and enforcement; providing for formulation of an educational program to prevent prejudice; providing for judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

SECTION 8. Educational Program.

The Commission, in cooperation with the Department of Education, is authorized to recommend a multicultural educational program, designed for the students of the schools in this Commonwealth and for all other residents thereof, with emphasis on foreign cultural and language studies, as well as on the basic, shared precepts and principles of United States culture, in order to promote cultural understanding and appreciation and to further good will among all persons, without regard to race, color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, handicap or disability.

SECTION 8.1. Investigatory Hearings Relating to Racial Problems.

Whenever any problem of racial discrimination or racial tension arises, the Commission may immediately hold an investigatory hearing. The place of any such hearing shall be in the county where the problem exists. The hearing may be public or private and the Commission shall have the same powers as provided in clause (g) for hearings on complaint filed.

The purpose of the hearing shall be to resolve the problem promptly by the gathering of all the facts from all the interested parties and making such recommendations as may be necessary.

The Commission shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity. The testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and be transcribed.

Should the recommendations of the Commission not be accepted within a reasonable time the Commission may, with the consent of eight members, on its own behalf initiate a complaint and the hearing findings and Commission order shall proceed the same as where a complaint has been filed.

{Source: Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Laws Administered By the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. February, 1997.)