Howard County                                   2727

equal rights which result in equal treatment without regard to sex, race,
color, creed, national origin or ancestry; assuring fair and equal treatment
under law to all citizens; protecting the rights of all persons to enjoy public
accommodations and facilities, and to receive equal treatment from all
holders of licenses, contracts or privileges from the County; and maintain-
ing equality of opportunity for employment and advancement in the
County government.

Information in the hands of any department or agency shall be
furnished to the Commission or to the Secretary when requested except
for criminal investigation reports and individual personnel records. Upon
receipt of recommendations, in writing, from the Commission, each depart-
ment or agency shall submit a reply, in writing, indicating the disposition
of an acton taken with regard to such recommendations.

The Commission shall advise and consult with the County Executive
and the County Council on all matters involving racial, religious or ethnic
prejudice or discrimination, and recommend such legislative and executive
action as it may deem appropriate to effectuate the policy of this law. The
Commission shall submit an annual report to the County Executive and
County Council which shall be published.

12.602—Cooperation with Civic Groups and Government Agencies.

The Commission shall invite and enlist the cooperation of racial and
ethnic groups, community organizations, business organizations, fraternal
and benevolent societies, veterans' organizations, professional and tech-
nical organizations, and other groups in the County carrying on its work.
The Commission may aid in the formation of local community groups in
such neighborhoods as it may deem necessary or desirable to carry out
specific, programs designed to lessen tensions or improve understanding
in the community. The Commission shall cooperate with state and federal
agencies whenever it deems such action appropriate in effectuating the
policy of this law. The Commission shall counsel any citizen whose human
rights are alleged to have been illegally violated and shall, if warranted,
notify the appropriate law enforcement agencies subject to the provisions
of subsection 12.605.

12.603—Research and Publications.

The Commission shall undertake studies of tensions, practices of
discrimination, and acts of prejudice against any group because of sex,
race, religion or ethnic origin; carry on research and obtain factual data
to ascertain the status and treatment of racial, religious and ethnic groups
in the County, and the best means of progressively improving human
relations in the entire County, and issue such publications and studies,
except as hereinafter provided, and make such recommendations to the
County Executive and County Council as in its judgment will effectuate
the policy of this law.

12.604—Commission Meetings.

The Commission shall hold public meetings once a month at a time
and place of its choosing. At least three-fourths of the monthly meetings
shall be held in the evening after 7:00 P.M.

12.605—Complaints.

Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged discrimination
occuring in Howard County on the basis of sex, race, creed, color or
national origin, may make, sign and file with the Commission a complaint,