Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.132.010 Established.
2.132.010 - Established.
There is established a metropolitan human relations commission.
(Ord. 94-1129 § 1 (part), 1994)
METROPOLITAN HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 2, div. IV, ch. 2.132
in effectMetropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.132.020 Mission and objectives.
2.132.020 - Mission and objectives.
A. The mission of the human relations commission is to protect and promote the personal dignity of all people by protecting and promoting their safety, health, security, peace, and general welfare.
B. The commission will endeavor to carry out this mission both proactively and reactively by:
1. Investigating complaints within the general services district regarding perceived discrimination;
2. Reviewing allegations of discriminatory misconduct by metropolitan government employees, including but not limited to employees of the police department, fire department, health department, department of codes administration, public works, metropolitan beer permit board, metropolitan development and housing agency and department of water and sewerage services, and fostering better relations between employees of metropolitan government and the people they seek to serve;
3. Lessening and eliminating prejudice and discrimination through educational and awareness-enhancing programs designed to promote tolerance, respect, and the value of diversity;
4. Proposing legislation addressing human relations issues in the general services district and enhancing the enforcement of statutes and ordinances that already exist;
5. Fostering mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect among all economic, social, religious, ethnic, and other community groups by working with existing educational, religious, governmental, social and community agencies.
(Ord. 94-1129 § 1 (part), 1994)
Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.132.030 Composition—Qualifications, appointment, term and filling vacancies.
2.132.030 - Composition—Qualifications, appointment, term and filling vacancies.
The human relations commission shall consist of fifteen members, who shall be broadly representative of the population of the general services district. Based on recommendations from any and all interested parties, including the metropolitan council, as well as ethnic, racial, religious, neighborhood, civic, community, social, fraternal, educational, commercial and advocacy organizations, the mayor shall appoint nine members of the human relations commission, subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the whole membership of the council. The remaining six members shall be elected by a majority vote of the whole membership of the council. Commission members shall serve three-years terms. A commission member is not eligible to be reappointed to the commission if such member has served more than one-half of a three-year term and a consecutive complete three-year term. Every member shall have been a resident of the general services district for at least one year prior to appointment and shall continue to be a resident of the general services district so long as he/she shall serve as a member of the commission. In the event a vacancy is created on the commission by the death, incapacity, or resignation of a member, or by the failure of a member to continue to reside in the general services district, a successor for the unexpired term shall be appointed by the same appointing authority as the vacant appointments.
(Ord. BL2025-811 § 11, 2025; Ord. BL2022-1528 § 5, 2023; Ord. BL2016-99 § 1, 2016; Ord. 94-1129 § 1 (part), 1994)
Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.132.040 Officers and committees—Employment of staff.
2.132.040 - Officers and committees—Employment of staff.
A. The human relations commission shall elect its own chair and vice-chair by majority vote. The chair and vice-chair shall be voting members of the commission. Officers shall serve one-year terms. There shall be a three term limit for officers. The commission may create and appoint task forces and committees it deems appropriate to carry out its functions. When appropriate for purposes of investigating and adjudicating complaints, cases will be assigned to panels consisting of three commission members. The commission chair and vice-chair will appoint commissioners to panels and provide administrative oversight of panels; they will not themselves serve on the panels. Each panel shall choose its own chair on a case-by-case basis.
B. The work of the commission shall be managed by an executive director, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the commission. The commission shall employ such other persons as may be necessary to carry out the educational, administrative and investigative work of the commission and as may be within the limits of its budget appropriation.
C. The responsibilities of the commission staff, under the direction of the executive director, include managing commission records and accounts, developing public education programs, providing training for commission members, managing citizen complaints, seeking additional private-sector funding for the commission, facilitating commission scheduling and communication, and any other tasks needed to help the commission perform its functions.
(Ord. 94-1129 § 1 (part), 1994)
Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.132.050 Reserved.
Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.132.060 Scope of responsibilities.
2.132.060 - Scope of responsibilities.
It is the responsibility of the commission to resolve complaints and carry out educational programs related to discrimination in the following areas:
A. Employment, including recruiting, hiring, firing, promotion, referral, and compensation;
B. Housing, including advertising, sales, renting, negotiating for sale or rent, financing, or insuring;
C. Financial services and commercial transactions, including banking, lending, collection, advising, investment management, or brokerage services;
D. The provision of public accommodations;
E. The provision of city activities and services, including but not limited to services provided the police department, fire department, health department, department of codes administration, public works, metropolitan beer permit board, metropolitan development and housing agency and department of water and sewerage services;
F. Educational programs and opportunities.
(Ord. 94-1129 § 1 (part), 1994)
Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.132.070 Powers and duties.
2.132.070 - Powers and duties.
A. In the area of human rights, the commission will have the power and duty:
1. To investigate alleged discriminatory misconduct by employees of the metropolitan government, including but not limited to employees of the police department, fire department, health department, department of codes administration, public works, metropolitan beer permit board, metropolitan development and housing agency and department of water and sewerage services;
2. To investigate complaints regarding discriminatory practices by contractors working under agreements with metropolitan government;
3. To seek information from persons, agencies, and businesses and hold hearings regarding complaints related to civil and human rights in the general services district. At the commission's discretion, testimony may be taken under oath;
4. To investigate bias crimes, hate group activity, and other discriminatory practices;
5. To investigate, document, and comment upon systematic patterns and practices of misconduct and make recommendations to the mayor or appropriate supervisor;
6. To act as a conciliator in controversies and disputes involving human relations.
B. In the area of human relations, the commission will have the power and duty:
1. To develop and implement educational programs dedicated to the enhancement of human relations;
2. To gather data regarding human relations and discrimination within the city;
3. To hold hearings and convene public forums regarding issues related to civil and human rights in the general services district;
4. To advise and confer with the mayor and other members of metropolitan government regarding issues under its purview;
5. To recommend, draft, propose, and support legislative action to safeguard people within the general services district from discrimination;
6. To advise and consult with state and federal agencies regarding laws and policies addressing discrimination and other human relations issues;
7. To cooperate with educational institutions, local and national civil rights organizations, and community groups to study discrimination and foster better human relations.
C. In hearing complaints alleging misconduct by employees of metropolitan government, the commission shall have the power and duty to propose changes in policies and procedures of metropolitan government as they relate to the functions of the commission.
D. In hearing complaints alleging misconduct other than by employees of metropolitan government, the commission shall have the power and duty:
1. To request that the respondent cease and desist from the unlawful discriminatory practice;
2. To recommend that a respondent take such affirmative action as the commission deems appropriate;
3. When the respondent is a municipal government contractor, to recommend to the purchasing agency the conditions under which a contract or franchise should be continued in force, suspended, or terminated.
E. With respect to the administration of commission affairs, the commission shall have the power and duty:
1. To adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind rules and regulations to effectuate the policies and provisions of this chapter;
2. To publish monthly reports on dispositions of human rights complaints;
3. To publish quarterly reports that provide full statistical and descriptive information on the status and outcomes of complaints and cases reviewed by the commission, as well as on educational activities undertaken by the commission;
4. To prepare an annual report on the state of human relations in the city.
(Ord. 94-1129 § 1 (part), 1994)
Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.132.080 Annual budget—Facilities.
2.132.080 - Annual budget—Facilities.
A. The human relations commission shall prepare annually a budget for the coming fiscal year, and shall submit such budget to the mayor in accordance with the Metropolitan Charter. Office space and facilities for the human relations commission shall be provided by the metropolitan government.
B. The human relations commission shall not have the power to expend any public funds for the employment of personnel or any other purpose until such time as an appropriation of funds for the commission has been adopted by the metropolitan council.
(Ord. 94-1129 § 1 (part), 1994)
Source: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Metropolitan Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT2AD_DIVIVCO_CH2.132MEHURECOFetched: 10/28/2026