[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Legislature of the County
of Ulster 8-14-2018 by L.L. No.
4-2018. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known by and may be cited as "The Ulster
County Human Rights Protection Act of 2018."
A.
The Ulster County Legislature hereby finds and declares that the
County has the responsibility to act to assure that every individual
within the County is afforded certain basic rights and freedoms to
which all human beings are entitled, including but not limited to
the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression,
and equality before the law.
B.
The Ulster County Legislature recognizes, finds and determines that
the laws and regulations of the United States of America and the State
of New York prohibit acts of discrimination, including discrimination
in employment, discrimination in public accommodations, resort and
amusement, discrimination in housing accommodation, discrimination
in commercial space and land transactions, and discrimination in the
issuing of credit based upon impermissible considerations relating
to a person's race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, age, national
origin, alienage or citizenship status, familial status, gender, including
gender identity, gender dysphoria, transgender status, group identity,
marital status, sexual orientation or disability.
C.
In enacting this chapter, the County is acting to empower its citizens
and to provide local assurances for the safeguarding of basic rights
and freedoms and the prevention of unlawful acts of discrimination.
The Ulster County Legislature finds that the adoption of this chapter
is an appropriate exercise of the police power for the protection
of the public welfare, health and peace of the people of this County.
D.
Article XXX of the Ulster County Charter ("Charter") provides for
the establishment of a Commission of Human Rights in and for Ulster
County ("Commission"). Section C-102 of the Ulster County Charter
provides that "The Commission of Human Rights shall have all of the
authority, responsibility, obligations, powers and duties set forth
in Article 12-D of the General Municipal Law and shall also have the
authority to create bylaws for its own governance, proceedings and
activities."
E.
The Commission exists to foster mutual respect for the rights of
all citizens and to explore opportunities for improving relations
among all people of Ulster County. Pursuant to Article 12-D of the
General Municipal Law, the Commission is empowered to, among other
things, seek the active assistance of the New York State Division
of Human Rights ("State Division") in the solution of complaints which
fall within the jurisdiction of the State Division (G.M.L. § 239-r)
and where and to the extent authorized by local law, to report, but
not initiate, any such complaints to the State Division [G.M.L. § 239-q(2)(a)].
F.
The Ulster County Legislature specifically finds and declares that
it is in the interest of the County to encourage its citizens to reason
together to reduce tensions within the many diverse communities in
Ulster County arising from alleged acts of discrimination, prejudice
and intolerance by resort to the Commission, or its authorized designee,
through a process of conference, conciliation and persuasion at the
local level, and that it is imperative to include within the duties
and responsibilities of the Commission, or its authorized designee,
the task of actively monitoring and assisting persons through the
process administered by the State Division for such claimed human
rights violations that have not been successfully resolved by the
Commission, or its authorized designee, at the local level through
mediation and conciliation.
G.
The Ulster County Legislature's intent in creating this chapter
is to empower the Ulster County Human Rights Commission pursuant to
Article 12-D of the General Municipal Law to engage in processes of
conference, conciliation and persuasion, with the active assistance
of the State Division, if needed, in the solution of complaints which
fall within the jurisdiction of the State Division, including those
complaints within the scope of State Regulation 9 NYCRR § 466.13
pertaining to gender identity, transgender persons, and gender dysphoria,
as such terms are defined by the state regulation, so as to amicably
resolve such complaints, reduce tensions, build consensus and foster
harmony between the various diverse communities within Ulster County,
and to otherwise report, but not initiate, such complaints to the
State Division, and to include within the duties and responsibilities
of the Commission, or its authorized designee, the task of actively
monitoring and assisting persons with claimed human rights violations
through the process administered by the State Division or the Hearing
Officer for such claims that have not been successfully resolved by
the Commission, or its authorized designee, through mediation and
conciliation, or where a respondent has refused mediation and conciliation.
The following terms are defined as follows in the implementation
hereof, and any terms not specifically defined herein shall be defined
by reference to New York State Executive Law § 292:
- DISABILITY
- Shall be defined as the term is defined in New York State Executive Law § 292(21).
- DISCRIMINATION
- Shall be defined as the term is defined in New York State Executive Law § 292(19).
- GENDER
- Includes actual or perceived sex and shall also include a person's gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the legal sex assigned to that person at birth.
- GENDER IDENTITY
- Having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth.
- GROUP IDENTITY
- Shall refer to race, color, religion, age, national origin (including ancestry), alienage or citizenship status, ethnicity, familial status, creed, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability.
- PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION, RESORT OR AMUSEMENT
- Shall be defined as the term is defined in New York State Executive Law § 292(9).
- SEXUAL ORIENTATION
- Shall be defined as the term is defined in New York State Executive Law § 292(27).
- TRANSGENDER
- An individual who has a gender identity different from the sex assigned to that individual at birth.
A.
The Commission of Human Rights shall have all of the authority, powers,
duties and obligations expressly set forth in Article 12-D of the
General Municipal Law, and shall also have the authority to engage
in processes of conference, conciliation and persuasion, with the
active assistance of the New York State Division of Human Rights ("State
Division"), if needed, in the mediation and solution of complaints
within the jurisdiction of the State Division, so as to amicably resolve
such complaints, reduce tensions, build consensus, and foster harmony
between the various and diverse communities within Ulster County and
to otherwise report, but not initiate, any such complaints to the
State Division, and shall also have the authority to create bylaws
for its own governance, proceedings and activities, but shall not
exercise any powers, duties or obligations not otherwise expressly
set forth in General Municipal Law Article 12-D.
B.
The Commission is authorized to receive complaints of all persons
in Ulster County with claimed human rights violations arising under
any New York State, federal or local human rights law or regulation
occurring in Ulster County and to engage all interested parties who
consent to do so in an effort to mutually resolve such complaints
through mediation and conciliation before the Commission or its authorized
designee. In the event that no members of the Commission are able
or willing to engage in mediation or conciliation of a given complaint
as in the case of a conflict of interest then, subject to legislative
appropriation sufficient to pay the expense thereof in a sum not to
exceed $10,000 per year, such complaints may be referred upon consent
of all parties to the complaint, to an accredited community dispute
resolution center within Ulster County operated under the auspices
of Article 21-A of the Judiciary Law for the sole purpose of conducting
such a nonbinding mediation and conciliation as specified herein.
C.
The Commission or its authorized designee shall actively monitor and assist persons with such claimed human rights violations through the process administered by the State Division, or pursuant to § 216-5 hereof by the local Hearing Officer, for such claims that have not been successfully resolved by the Commission, or its authorized designee, through mediation and conciliation at the local level should such persons elect to file a discrimination claim with the State Division or the local Hearing Officer. The assistance rendered under this subsection shall not include the rendering of legal advice or legal representation to any party.
D.
The Commission or its authorized designee shall maintain records
of all complaints received by it during each calendar year and shall
make a report to the County Legislature by March 31 of each year summarizing
the number, type and disposition of such complaints. Such annual report
shall not include names or personal identifying information of any
party.
The Commission of Human Rights shall have 11 members appointed
to terms of three years, three members of whom shall be appointed
by the legislative Chairman, three members by the legislative minority
leader, and five members by the County Executive, one of whom shall
be designated by him or her as the Commission Chairman. Appointments
shall be representative of the various religious, racial, ethnic and
nationality groups in Ulster County's communities. No member
of the Commission of Human Rights shall serve more than two consecutive
terms of three years.
A.
An Independent Administrative Hearing Officer ("Hearing Officer")
is hereby created, established and authorized to hear complaints of
persons in Ulster County with claimed human rights violations arising
under any New York State, federal or local human rights law or regulation
occurring in Ulster County where such claims have not been successfully
resolved by the Commission, or its authorized designee, through mediation
and conciliation at the local level, and to issue orders assessing
monetary damages or other appropriate nonmonetary relief where liability
is determined to exist.
B.
The Hearing Officer shall be appointed by the County Executive, subject
to confirmation by the Legislature, and shall serve at the pleasure
of the County Executive. Any Hearing Officer so appointed shall be
an attorney admitted to practice law in good standing by the State
of New York having been so admitted for no less than five years. Such
appointments shall first be made from a panel of retired Supreme Court
Justices residing in Ulster County, but if none are able or willing
to serve, from any eligible attorney.
C.
The Hearing Officer has the authority to require the attendance of
witnesses or the production of documentary evidence by subpoena.
D.
The Hearing Officer may not accept any complaint hereunder unless
it is accompanied by certification from the Commission that 30 days
has passed since receipt of the complaint or that respondent has refused
mediation and conciliation, whichever shall first occur, or in the
alternative that mediation and conciliation of the complaint has been
attempted but has not resolved the complaint, and by a waiver and
relinquishment, sworn to by the complainant, of any and all rights
to file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights,
any federal civil rights agencies, such as the Department of Housing
and Urban Development ("HUD") or the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission ("EEOC"), or with the commission on human rights of any
city, town or village located in Ulster County, which is based upon
the same transaction or occurrence or series of transactions or occurrences
which are the subject of the complaint sought to be filed. The Hearing
Officer shall promulgate and make available appropriate forms of complaints,
certifications and of waiver and relinquishment.
E.
The Hearing Officer shall give to the respondent written notice of
the complaint and an opportunity to request a hearing on the complaint.
F.
Written notice and hearing provisions.
(1)
The written notice shall include, at a minimum:
(a)
A concise statement of the factual basis for the complaint;
(b)
The amount of damages claimed;
(c)
The provisions of state, federal or local human rights laws
or regulations alleged to have been violated by the respondent;
(d)
The right to request a hearing on the material facts and/or
the amount of the damages; and
(e)
A copy of the rules of the hearing procedures which have been
promulgated by the Hearing Officer.
(2)
The hearing shall provide a reasonable opportunity to be heard, to
assert any applicable answer, affirmative defenses, cross claims or
counter claims, to move to dismiss, to cross-examine witnesses, and
to present evidence free from interference, coercion, restraint, discrimination,
or reprisal, and the parties shall have the right to be represented
by a person of his/her choice at any stage of the hearing and proceedings
at their own expense.
G.
If the respondent fails to appear at the hearing without good cause
being shown and the complainant presents a prima facie case against
the respondent, the respondent may be found in default. The motion
for default and a proposed default order shall be served by the Hearing
Officer on all parties, and the defaulting party shall have 20 days
from service thereof to reply to the motion. The proposed default
order may be set aside for good cause shown in accordance with the
Civil Practice Law and Rules. Default by the complainant shall result
in the dismissal of the complaint with prejudice.
H.
Should liability be found after a hearing, in determining the amount
of monetary damages to be assessed, the Hearing Officer shall consider
the seriousness of the violation(s); any history of such violations;
the economic impact (benefit or harm) resulting from the violation(s)
to the complainant; the economic impact of the damages to be assessed
to the respondent; and such other factors as justice may require.
Money damages, or other nonmonetary relief, awarded hereunder shall
constitute a judgment as that term is defined in the Civil Practice
Law and Rules, which may be enforced in accordance with that statute.
I.
The Hearing Officer shall establish rules and forms for discovery
consistent with Article 31 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules, and
for administration and implementation of this section, including procedures
for conducting hearings, motion practice, and other necessary proceedings.
J.
Any person against whom money damages, or other nonmonetary relief,
are assessed under this section may obtain judicial review of such
assessment in accord with Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and
Rules.
K.
The Hearing Officer shall maintain an abstract of all complaints
received each year, which abstract shall include the date and subject
matter of the complaint, the names of the parties, and the disposition
of the complaint.
If a decision of liability is made by the Hearing Officer, money
damages payable to the complaining party may be assessed of not more
than $20,000, and/or such other nonmonetary relief as the Hearing
Officer may deem just, proper and equitable. The Hearing Officer may
not award, and each party shall bear its own, attorney fees, costs
and expenses.
This chapter does not create any special duty by Ulster County.
Any and all liability and consequential damage resulting from either
a violation of any provisions of this chapter or the enforcement of
any provisions of this chapter are hereby disclaimed and governmental
immunity is retained.
If any word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, section or
part of this article shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate
the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the
word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, section of part thereof
directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall
have been rendered.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon its filing with
the New York Secretary of State.