Powers, duties, and functions.
Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 25-7
in effect§ 25-7. - Powers, duties, and functions.
The Commission shall have the following powers, duties, and functions to address discriminatory practices relating to employment, housing, and public accommodations under the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Law, 25 O.S. § 1101 et seq. (hereinafter the "State Anti-Discrimination Law"):
(a) To promote the purposes of the State Anti-Discrimination Law, 25 O.S. § 1101 et seq.
(b) To promote freedom from discriminatory practices for all individuals within Oklahoma City.
(c) To cooperate with individuals and state, local, and other agencies, both public and private, including agencies of the federal government and other states and municipalities in the pursuit of human rights protections.
(d) To cooperate with law enforcement agencies by referring any violation, or apparent violation of criminal violations of anti-discrimination laws to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation.
(e) To recommend the acceptance of gifts, bequests, grants, or other payments, public or private, to be received by the City Council for use in promoting the functions and duties of the Commission as set forth in this Article II.
(f) To receive, initiate, investigate, and seek to conciliate complaints alleging violations of the State Anti-Discrimination Law, as it may be amended from time to time; provided:
(1) "Conciliate" or "conciliation" as used in this Article II means to seek to mediate and resolve such a complaint by agreement between or among all involved parties;
(2) The Commission itself may initiate such a complaint only if the party or parties claiming to have been harmed by an alleged discriminatory practice consent in writing to the initiation of the complaint by the Commission; and
(3) The Commission shall have the authority to recommend any remedy or remedies for any discriminatory practice factually confirmed after an investigation; provided, such remedies are limited to those now or hereafter set forth for local human rights commissions in Chapter 21 of Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
(g) To recommend that the Council obtain studies or surveys that promote the purposes and policies set forth in the State Anti-Discrimination Law, with all such studies and surveys to be made available to the public.
(h) To render at least annually a written report of the activities of the Commission, with a copy of such report to be furnished to the City Council, the City Manager, the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office of Civil Rights Enforcement, and to any other appropriate officers of the State of Oklahoma, including but not limited to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the President Pro Tem of the Oklahoma Senate, and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
(i) To form advisory committees to assist the Commission in the exercise of its powers, duties, and functions as set forth in this Section 25-7 or elsewhere within this Article II.
(1) The Commission may establish such advisory committees as it deems necessary for assistance in the exercise of it powers, duties, and functions under this Article.
(2) The Commission may establish such an advisory committee to evaluate and recommend legislation amending the State Anti-Discrimination Law.
(3) Advisory committee members shall be jointly appointed by the Mayor and the Chair of the Commission, with appointments subject to the consent of the City Council and the Commission, and with at least one (1) Commission member to be appointed to each advisory committee and designated to serve as chairperson of such committee.
(4) Advisory committees shall meet on dates established by the Commission and shall comply with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.
(j) To sponsor or participate in at least one (1) annual forum or educational event designed to educate the public regarding human rights concerns.
(k) To recommend policies to the Council or other governmental entities that are consistent with the belief that discriminatory practices threaten the rights and proper privileges of the inhabitants of this City and the foundations of freedom.
(Ord. No. 27109, § 2, 7-19-22)
Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH25HURI_ARTIIOKHURICO_S25-7PODUFUFetched: 10/28/2026