HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 2, art. V, div. 18

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-1349 Created.

Sec. 2-1349. - Created. Pursuant to Section 2.04.1 of the Charter of the City of Richmond (2010), as amended, and Code of Virginia, § 15.2-965, there is hereby created a commission of the City of Richmond with indefinite duration to be known as the Human Rights Commission. (Code 2015, § 2-1167; Code 2020, § 2-1171; Ord. No. 2018-044, § 1, 6-11-2018)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-1350 Composition.

Sec. 2-1350. - Composition. The Commission shall be composed of 13 members appointed by the Council and the Mayor as follows: (1) Eleven adult members of whom the Council shall appoint six and the Mayor five. (2) Two non-voting youth members who shall be students of public schools administered by the School Board of the City of Richmond, Virginia, enrolled in the tenth, 11th, or 12th grades. Of these two youth members, the Council shall appoint one and the Mayor shall appoint one. (Code 2015, § 2-1168; Code 2020, § 2-1172; Ord. No. 2018-044, § 1, 6-11-2018)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-1351 Qualifications.

Sec. 2-1351. - Qualifications. All members of the Commission shall be residents of the City of Richmond and shall be broadly representative of the community with respect to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, transgender status, or gender identity. (Code 2015, § 2-1169; Code 2020, § 2-1173; Ord. No. 2018-044, § 1, 6-11-2018)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-1352 Terms of office.

Sec. 2-1352. - Terms of office. (a) The 11 adult members shall be appointed for terms of three years. No adult member shall be appointed to more than two successive full terms; provided, however, that a person appointed to fill an unexpired term may be reappointed to two successive full terms upon completion of the unexpired term for which the person has been appointed. (b) Each of the two youth members shall be appointed to one term commencing September 1 and ending August 31 of the immediately succeeding calendar year. No youth member shall serve more than one term; provided, however, that a person appointed as a youth member to fill an unexpired term may be reappointed to one successive full term upon completion of the unexpired term for which the person has been appointed, as long as such person meets the applicable requirements set forth in Sections 2-1350 and 2-1351. (c) All other aspects of the Commission and its membership not addressed in this division shall be governed by Article V, Division 1 of this chapter. (Code 2015, § 2-1170; Code 2020, § 2-1174; Ord. No. 2018-044, § 1, 6-11-2018)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-1353 Duties.

Sec. 2-1353. - Duties. The Commission shall perform the following duties: (1) Investigate, to the extent permitted by law, and advise the Council and the Mayor on acts or practices prohibited under applicable local, State, and Federal law. (2) Provide assistance to persons who believe their human rights under City, State, or Federal law have been violated by identifying the appropriate Federal, State, local agency to address the complaint and referring such persons to such agency. (3) Provide public forums for the discussion of human rights issues, including educational awareness forums concerning policies or practices that cause or may be caused by discriminatory practices or patterns. (4) Conduct studies concerning ways to improve human relations in the City and propose solutions for any issues identified through such studies. (5) Acquire data, to the extent permitted by law, by monitoring requests for information and patterns of complaints. (6) Request, to the extent permitted by law, information concerning incidents that may constitute unlawful acts of discrimination or unfounded charges of unlawful discrimination under City, State, or Federal law. (7) Create, maintain and, upon request, distribute a resource guide containing information about services, advocacy organizations, websites, and City resources dedicated to assisting individuals who believe their human rights under applicable local, State, or Federal law have been violated. (Code 2015, § 2-1171; Code 2020, § 2-1175; Ord. No. 2018-044, § 1, 6-11-2018)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-1354 Administration.

Sec. 2-1354. - Administration. (a) Quorum. Six members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. (b) Officers. The Commission shall select from among its membership a chair and such other officers as it may deem necessary to discharge its functions. (c) Meetings. The Commission shall meet at least once every other month and as often as the Commission may deem necessary. (d) Reporting. On the first day of each month, the Commission shall provide the Boards and Commissions Administrator with a summary of the Commission's activities for the preceding month. In addition, by no later than February 15 of each year, the Commission shall submit a comprehensive written report to the Council concerning its activities for the preceding year. (e) Freedom of information. The Commission shall keep minutes of its meetings in accordance with the requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. (f) Procedures. The Commission may adopt rules of procedure or bylaws, approved as to form and legality by the City Attorney and not inconsistent with this division or other applicable law, to govern the conduct of its meetings and affairs. For purposes of section 2-924, the Commission is classified as "advisory." (g) Staff and resources. The Department of Human Resources shall provide the necessary support for the Commission subject to the appropriation of sufficient funds therefor. (Code 2015, § 2-1172; Code 2020, § 2-1176; Ord. No. 2018-044, § 1, 6-11-2018; Ord. No. 2024-142, § 1, 6-24-2024)

Source: City of Richmond, Virginia, Code (2026 recodification) and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICICO_CH2AD_ARTVBOCOCOOTAG_DIV18HURICOFetched: 11/8/2026