2728                               Municipal Charters

in writing, in a form satisfactory to the Commission. After the filing
of any complaint, the Commission shall consider the complaint and by
majority vote of the entire membership A VOTE OF AT LEAST FIVE
MEMBERS may refer it to the Secretary for prompt investigation and
ascertainment of the facts; provided, however, that if the complaint shall
concern alleged discrimination by the Executive branch of the County
Government, such referral shall be to the County Council. The results
of this investigation shall be made as written findings. A copy of the
findings shall be furnished to the complainant and to the person, firm,
association, partnership, corporation, or appropriate branch of the County
Government (hereinafter referred to as the "Respondent"), against whom
or which the complaint is made. If the finding is that there is probable
cause for believing a discriminatory act has been or is being committed
within the scope of any of the Public General Law of Maryland or of
the Public Local Law of Howard County, the Secretary shall endeavor
immediately to eliminate the discrimination by conference, conciliation
and persuasion. Any agreement reached shall be reduced to writing and
signed by the Respondent, Complainant and the Secretary. If an agree-
ment cannot be reached by conciliation, conference, or persuasion, the
Human Rights RELATIONS Commission may by majority vote of its
entire membership A VOTE OF AT LEAST FIVE MEMBERS direct
the Secretary to cause a complaint to be filed with the appropriate local,
state or federal agency or Court, seeking action to enjoin or restrain
the violation of the complainant's civil rights or other appropriate remedy.
The Office of Law shall provide all the necessary legal assistance in
filing and prosecuting the complaint. Neither the Commission nor the
Secretary nor other employees of the County shall disclose what has
transpired during the course of any investigation, nor shall any publicity
be given to any negotiations or to the fact that a complaint has been
filed, except that this provision shall not apply to disclosures by the
Commission to local, state and national commissions, and agencies or gov-
ernmental departments and State or County Legislative bodies and the
members of the Legislature acting in their official capacities.

12.606—Legal Advice.

The County Solicitor shall be legal advisor to the Human Relations
Commission, and he or an Assistant County Solicitor shall attend all
meetings of the Human Relations Commission.

12.607—Severability.

If any clause, the sentence, part or parts of this title, or of any
section thereof shall be held unconstitutional or invalid such unconsti-
tutionality or invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining
parts of this title or of any section thereof. The County Council hereby
declares that it would have passed the remaining parts of this title
or any section thereof if it had known such clause, sentence, part or
parts of any section thereof should be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

Section 2. BE IT FURTHER ENACTED BY THE COUNTY COUN-
CIL OF HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND, That this Act shall take effect
sixty (60) days after its enactment.

This Bill, having been approved by the Executive and returned to the
Council, stands enacted on May 13, 1969.