* Editor’s Note: For statutory provisions on county human relations commissions, see Gov. Code § 50260 et seq.

The board of supervisors finds that the injustices and the inequities resulting from prejudice, intolerance and discrimination against any individual or group because of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or because of any arbitrary factor such as socio-economic status, marital status or personal handicaps, promote tension and conflict and constitute an unconscionable menace to the public welfare; that to eliminate such prejudice and inequity and thereby promote public health, welfare and security, an instrumentality should be established through which practices to achieve better human relations can be provided, and private persons and groups may be officially assisted in promoting good will and better relations among all people. (Ord. 11325 § 1 (part), 1976: Ord. 7425 § 1 (part), 1958: Ord. 4099 Art. 29 § 421, 1942.)

The commission on human relations, pursuant to Section 50262 of the Government Code, is continued. As used in this chapter, “commission” means the commission on human relations. The commission shall consist of 15 voting positions and a maximum of four honorary nonvoting positions.
A. A member of the commission shall be appointed to a vacant position by, and serve at the pleasure of, the board of supervisors, which shall be referred to in this chapter as the “board.”
B. Each person who is a voting member of the commission on the effective date of the amendment codified in this section shall serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors for the remainder of his or her term of three years. (Ord. 2002-0061 § 1, 2002: Ord. 96-0035 § 1, 1996: Ord. 96-0022 § 1, 1996: Ord. 96-0006 § 1, 1996: Ord. 90-0086 § 3(a), 1990: Ord. 11325 § 1 (part), 1976: Ord. 10532 § 1, 1972: Ord. 10181 § 1, 1971: Ord. 8888 § 1, 1965: Ord. 8355 § 12, 1963; Ord. 8118 § 1 (part), 1961: Ord. 7448 § 1, 1958: Ord. 7425 § 1 (part), 1958: Ord. 4099 Art. 29 § 422, 1942.)

The provisions of this section shall become applicable to a voting position on the commission at the expiration of the term of the member occupying that position on the effective date of the amendment codified in this section.
A. Each member of the commission shall serve at the pleasure of the board. Each voting position on the commission shall become vacant every four years from the date the amendment codified in this section becomes applicable to each position.
B. No voting member of the commission may serve more than two consecutive full periods of service as specified in subsection A of this section. The board may, by order, extend this length of service or waive this limit for individuals or the commission as a whole.
C. A member’s position on the commission shall become vacant upon his or her death, resignation, or removal by the board. In the case of a vacancy in a voting position, the board shall appoint a successor to serve until the position next becomes vacant under subsection A of this section.
D. The provisions of Chapter 5.12 of the County Code shall not apply to the commission. (Ord. 96-0022 § 2, 1996: Ord. 96-0006 § 2, 1996: Ord. 90-0086 § 3(b), 1990: Ord. 10532 § 2, 1972: Ord. 4099 Art. 29 § 422.5, 1942.)

The officers and employees of the commission shall be those designated in the current salary ordinance of the county of Los Angeles. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of the executive director of the commission, the director of personnel shall present a list of qualified candidates to the commission. The commission shall interview the candidates, and may recommend to the board up to three candidates for consideration. The executive director shall be appointed by the board of supervisors pursuant to Section 33(c) of the County Charter. The annual goals and objectives for the executive director shall be developed by the commission subject to the general oversight of the board, and the evaluation of performance shall be made by the board as provided in Section 2.06.100 of the county code. The executive director of the commission is responsible as the administrative head of the commission staff, for implementing and executing the policy and program of the commission. (Ord. 2000-0020 § 2, 2000: Ord. 10921 § 1, 1974: Ord. 8118 § 1 (part), 1961: Ord. 7425 § 1 (part), 1958: Ord. 4099 Art. 29 § 424, 1942.)

The compensation of the members of the commission shall be as provided from time to time in the current salary ordinance of the county of Los Angeles. In the absence of any provision therefor in the said current salary ordinance, the members of the commission shall serve without compensation. (Ord. 7425 § 1 (part), 1958: Ord. 4099 Art. 29 § 425, 1942.)

The commission on human relations shall meet not less than once a month. It shall adopt, by a majority vote, such rules as it shall deem expedient for the conduct of its business, and shall elect such officers as it may deem necessary. (Ord. 2002-0061 § 2, 2002: Ord. 11325 § 1 (part), 1976: Ord. 8355 § 13, 1963; Ord. 8118 § 1 (part), 1961: Ord. 7425 § 1 (part), 1958: Ord. 4099 Art. 29 § 426, 1942.)

The commission, in its efforts to eradicate the prejudice, intolerance and discrimination based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age and other arbitrary factors such as socio-economic status, marital status, physical or mental handicaps, shall:
A. Engage in research and education for the purpose of lessening and eliminating prejudice and its effects, and of fostering attitudes among the various groups within its jurisdiction which lead to civic peace and intergroup understanding;
B. Develop and administer programs and plans designed to promote equal opportunity and full acceptance of all persons in the community in all aspects of community life;
C. Cooperate with and assist in coordinating on a county-wide basis the work of those agencies and groups which are engaged in fostering mutual understanding and respect among all population groups in the county of Los Angeles and which are attempting to discourage discriminatory practices against any such group or any of its members;
D. Cooperate with any county department in identifying and ameliorating human relations problems with which they may be concerned;
E. From time to time, recommend measures, including legislation, to the board of supervisors which will serve to improve human relations within the county. (Ord. 11325 § 1 (part), 1976: Ord. 8118 § 1 (part), 1961: Ord. 7425 § 1 (part), 1958: Ord. 4099 Art. 29 § 423, 1942.)

The commission may appoint, at its discretion, subcommittees to concern themselves with specific human relations problems. These subcommittees may be composed of persons who are not members of the commission, except that the chairperson of each subcommittee must be a bona fide member of the human relations commission. Such subcommittees should be broadly representative of an appropriate cross-section of the general population of the county. (Ord. 11325 § 1 (part), 1976: Ord. 7425 § 1 (part), 1958: Ord. 4099 Art. 29 § 427, 1942.)