Indianapolis, IN Human Relations and Equal Opportunity

Indianapolis, IN, US

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Type: Ordinance

Status: Adopted on 11/21/05

Source File: http://www.nostatusquo.com/ACLU/dworkin/other/ordinance/newday/AppB1.htm

Text:

Chapter 16
HUMAN RELATIONS; EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Sec. 16-1. Findings, policies and purposes.

(a) Findings. The city-county council hereby makes the following findings:

(1) The council finds that the practice of denying equal opportunities in employment, education, access to and use of public accommodations, and acquisition of real estate based on race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, handicap, or sex is contrary to the principles of freedom and equality of opportunity and is a burden to the objectives of the policies contained herein and shall be considered discriminatory practices.

(2) Pornography is a discriminatory practice based on sex which denies women equal opportunities in society. Pornography is central in creating and maintaining sex as a basis for discrimination. Pornography is a systematic practice of exploitation and subordination based on sex which differentially harms women. The bigotry and contempt it promotes, with the acts of aggression it fosters, harm women's opportunities for equality of rights in employment, education, access to and use of public accommodations, and acquisition of real property; promote rape, battery, child abuse, kidnapping and prostitution and inhibit just enforcement of laws against such acts; and contribute significantly to restricting women in particular from full exercise of citizenship and participation in public life, including in neighborhoods.

(b) It is the purpose of this chapter to carry out the following policies of the City of Indianapolis and Marion County:

(1) To provide equal employment opportunity in all city and county jobs without regard to race, color, religion, handicap, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, disabled veteran, or Vietnam era veteran status;

(2) To encourage the hiring of the handicapped in both the public and the private sectors and to provide equal access to the handicapped to public accommodations;

(3) To utilize minority-owned businesses, securing goods and services for the city and county in a dollar amount equal to at least ten (10) per cent of monies spent by the City of Indianapolis and Marion County;

(4) To utilize women-owned businesses and encourage the utilization of women in construction and industry;

(5) To protect employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, property owners, real estate brokers, builders, lending institutions, governmental and educational agencies and other persons from unfounded charges of discrimination;

(6) To provide all citizens of the City of Indianapolis and Marion County equal opportunity for education, employment, access to public accommodations without regard to race, religion, color, handicap, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, or disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran status;

(7) To provide all citizens of the City of Indianapolis and Marion County equal opportunity for acquisition through purchase or rental of real property including, but not limited to, housing without regard to race, sex, religion or national origin; and

(8) To prevent and prohibit all discriminatory practices of sexual subordination or inequality through pornography.

Sec. 16-2. Nondiscrimination clauses.

(1) Every contract to which one of the parties is the city or the county, or any board, department or office of either the city or county, including franchises granted to public utilities, shall contain a provision requiring the governmental contractor and subcontractors not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment in the performance of the contract, with respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions or privileges of employment, or any matter directly or indirectly related to employment, because of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, handicap, disabled veteran status and Vietnam era veteran status. Breach of this provision may be regarded as a material breach of the contract.

(2) All applications, postings, announcements, and advertisements recruiting applicants for employment with the city or county shall conspicuously post in the bottom margin of such recruiting bids a clause as follows: "An Affirmative Action Equal Employment Opportunity Employer."

Sec. 16-3. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

(a) Acquisition of real estate shall mean the sale, rental, lease, sublease, construction or financing, including negotiations and any other activities or procedures incident thereto, of:

(1) Any building, structure, apartment, single room or suite of rooms or other portion of a building, occupied as or designed or intended for occupancy as living quarters by one or more families or single individuals;

(2) Any building, structure or portion thereof, or any improved or unimproved land utilized or designed or intended for utilization, for business, commercial, industrial or agricultural purposes;

(3) Any vacant or unimproved land offered for sale or lease for any purpose whatsoever.

(b) Appointing authorities shall mean and include the mayor, city-county council and such other person or agency as may be entitled to appoint any member of the equal opportunity advisory board created in this chapter.

(c) Appraiser shall mean any person who, for a fee or in relation to his/her employment or usual occupation, establishes a value for any kind of real estate, the acquisition of which is defined in this section.

(d) Board shall mean the equal opportunity advisory board.

(e) Complainant shall mean any person who signs a complaint on his/her own behalf alleging that he/she has been aggrieved by a discriminatory practice.

(f) Complaint shall mean a written grievance filed with the office of equal opportunity, either by a complainant or by the board or office, which meets all the requirements of sections 16-18 and 16- 19.

(g) Discriminatory practice shall mean and include the following:

(1) The exclusion from or failure or refusal to extend to any person equal opportunities or any difference in the treatment of any person by reason of race, sex, religion, color, national origin or ancestry, handicap, age, disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran status.

(2) The exclusion from or failure or refusal to extend to any person equal opportunities or any difference in the treatment of any person, because the person filed a complaint alleging a violation of this chapter, testified in a hearing before any members of the board or otherwise cooperated with the office or board in the performance of its duties and functions under this chapter, or requested assistance from the board in connection with any alleged discriminatory practice, whether or not such discriminatory practice was in violation of this chapter.

(3) In the case of a real estate broker or real estate salesperson or agent, acting in such a capacity in the ordinary course of his/her business or occupation, who does any of the following:

a. Any attempt to prevent, dissuade or discourage any prospective purchaser, lessee or tenant of real estate from viewing, buying, leasing or renting the real estate because of the race, sex, religion or national origin of:

1. Students, pupils or faculty of any school or school district;

2. Owners or occupants, or prospective owners or occupants, of real estate in any neighborhood or on any street or block; provided, however, this clause shall not be construed to prohibit disclosure in response to inquiry by any prospective purchaser, lessee or tenant of:

(i) Information reasonably believed to be accurate regarding such race, sex, religion or national origin; or

(ii) The honest professional opinion or belief of the broker, salesperson or agent regarding factors which may affect the value or desirability of property available for purchase or lease.

b. Any solicitation, promotion or attempt to influence or induce any owner to sell, lease or list for sale or lease any real estate, which solicitation, promotion or attempted inducement includes representations concerning:

1. Race, sex, religion or national origin or present, prospective or possible purchasers or occupants of real estate in any area, neighborhood or particular street or block;

2. Present, prospective or possible neighborhood unrest, tension or change in the race, sex, religion or national origin of occupants or prospective occupants of real estate in any neighborhood or any street or block;

3. Present, prospective or possible decline in market value of any real estate by reason of the present, prospective or possible entry into any neighborhood, street or block of persons of a particular race, sex, religion or national origin;

4. Present, prospective or possible decline in the quality of education offered in any school or school district by reason of any change in the race, sex, religion or national origin of the students, pupils or faculty of such school or district.

(4) Trafficking in pornography: The production, sale, exhibition, or distribution of pornography.

a. City, state, and federally funded public libraries or private and public university and college libraries in which pornography is available for study, including on open shelves, shall not be construed to be trafficking in pornography, but special display presentations of pornography in said places is sex discrimination.

b. The formation of private clubs or associations for purposes of trafficking in pornography is illegal and shall be considered a conspiracy to violate the civil rights of women.

c. This paragraph (4) shall not be construed to make isolated passages or isolated parts actionable.

(5) Coercion into pornographic performance: Coercing, intimidating or fraudulently inducing any person, including a man, child or transsexual, into performing for pornography, which injury may date from any appearance or sale of any products of such performance.

a. Proof of the following facts or conditions shall not constitute a defense:

1. That the person is a woman; or

2. That the person is or has been a prostitute; or

3. That the person has attained the age of majority; or

4. That the person is connected by blood or marriage to anyone involved in or related to the making of the pornography; or

5. That the person has previously had, or been thought to have had, sexual relations with anyone, including anyone involved in or related to the making of the pornography; or

6. That the person has previously posed for sexually explicit pictures for or with anyone, including anyone involved in or related to the making of the pornography at issue; or

7. That anyone else, including a spouse or other relative, has given permission on the person's behalf; or

8. That the person actually consented to a use of the performance that is changed into pornography; or

9. That the person knew that the purpose of the acts or events in question was to make pornography; or

10. That the person demonstrated no resistance or appeared to cooperate actively in the photographic sessions or in the sexual events that produced the pornography; or

11. That the person signed a contract, or made statements affirming a willingness to cooperate in the production of pornography; or

12. That no physical force, threats, or weapons were used in the making of the pornography; or

13. That the person was paid or otherwise compensated.

(6) Forcing pornography on a person: The forcing of pornography on any woman, man, child or transsexual in any place of employment, in education, in a home, or in any public place.

(7) Assault or physical attack due to pornography: The assault, physical attack, or injury of any woman, man, child, or transexual in a way that is directly caused by specific pornography.

(8)Defenses: Where the materials which are the subject matter of a complaint under paragraphs (4), (5),or (7) of this subsection (g) are pornography or sex discrimination; provided, however, that in the cases under paragraph (g)(4) of section 16-3 or against a seller, exhibitor or distributor under paragraph (g)(7) of section 16-3, no damages or compensation for losses shall be recoverable unless the complainant proves that the respondent knew or had reason to know that the materials were pornography. Provided, further, that it shall be a defense to a complainant under paragraph (g)(4) of section 16-3 that the materials complained of are those covered only by paragraph (q)(6) of section 16-3.

(h)Education shall mean the construction, maintenance or operation of any school or educational facility utilized or intended to be utilized for the education or training of persons residing within the territorial jurisdiction of the office and controlled by a public governmental board or agency which operates one or more elementary or secondary schools.

(i)Employer shall mean:

(1)Any political subdivision within the county not represented by the corporation counsel, pursuant to IC 18-4-7-5, and any separate municipal corporation which has territorial jurisdiction primarily within the county; and

(2) Any person who employs at the time of any alleged violation six (6) or more employees within the territorial jurisdiction of the office.

(j) Employment shall mean a service performed by an individual for compensation on behalf of an employer, except that such services shall not include the following:

(1) Services performed by an individual who in fact is engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, business or profession, and who has been and will continue to be free from direction or control over the manner of performance of such services;

(2) Services performed by an agent who receives compensation solely upon a commission basis and who controls his/her own time and efforts; or

(3) Services performed by an individual in the employ of his/her spouse, child or parent.

(k) Employment agency shall mean and include any person undertaking, with or without compensation, to procure, recruit, refer or place any individual for employment.

(l) Labor organization shall mean and include any organization which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining or dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or for other mutual aid or protection in relation to employment.

(m) Lending institution shall mean any bank, building and loan association, insurance company or other corporation, association, firm or enterprise, the business of which consists in whole or in part in making or guaranteeing loans, secured by real estate or any interest therein.

(n) Office shall mean the office of equal opportunity created by this chapter.

(o) Owner shall mean and include the title holder of record, a contract purchaser, lessee, sublessee, managing agent or other person having rights of ownership or possession, or the right to sell, rent or lease real estate.

(p) Person shall mean and include one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, organizations, cooperatives, legal representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, governmental agencies and other organized groups of persons.

(q) Pornography shall mean the graphic sexually explicit subordination of women, whether in pictures or in words, that also includes one or more of the following:

(1) Women are presented as sexual objects who enjoy pain or humiliation; or

(2) Women are presented as sexual objects who experience sexual pleasure in being raped; or

(3) Women are presented as sexual objects tied up or cut up or mutilated or bruised or physically hurt, or as dismembered or truncated or fragmented or severed into body parts; or

(4) Women are presented being penetrated by objects or animals; or

(5) Women are presented in scenarios of degradation, injury, abasement, torture, shown as filthy or inferior, bleeding, bruised, or hurt in a context that makes these conditions sexual; [or]

(6) Women are presented as sexual objects for domination, conquest, violation, exploitation, possession, or use, or through postures or positions of servility or submission or display.

The use of men, children, or transsexuals in the place of women in paragraphs (1) through (6) above shall also constitute pornography under this section.

(r) Public accommodation shall mean an establishment which caters to or offers its services, facilities or goods to the general public.

(s) Public facility shall mean any facility or establishment, other than an educational institution, which is owned, operated or managed by or on behalf of a governmental agency.

(t) Real estate broker shall mean any person who, for a fee or other valuable consideration, sells, purchases, rents, leases, or exchanges, or offers or attempts to negotiate the sale, purchase, rental, lease or exchange of real property owned by another person; or a person who is licensed and holds himself/herself out to be engaged in the business of selling, purchasing, renting, leasing or exchanging real property for other persons, or who manages and collects rents for the real property of another.

(u) Real estate salesperson or agent shall mean any person employed by a real estate broker to perform or assist in performing any or all of the functions of the real estate broker.

(v)Respondent shall mean one or more persons against whom a complaint is filed under this chapter, and who the complaint alleges has committed or is committing a discriminatory practice.

Sec. 16-4. Office of equal opportunity - Created; purpose.
There is hereby created a section of the legal division of the department of administration entitled the office of equal opportunity. This office and it's board are empowered as provided in this chapter to carry out the public policy of the state as stated in section 2 of the Indiana Civil Rights Act, within the territorial boundaries of Marion County.

Sec. 16-5. Same - Composition of office; functions.
The office shall be directed by a chief officer who shall also be the affirmative action officer for the city and county. The chief officer shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the mayor and shall be responsible for performing the following functions:

(1) To monitor internal employment practices as follows:

a. By ensuring that city and county government offers equal employment oppurtunities to persons regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, handicap, or disabled veteran status;

b. By providing a vehicle through which employees may seek redress for alleged discriminatory acts by city and county government and/or retaliatory acts by city or county government for filing or assisting in the discrimination complaint process;

c. By establishing affirmative action goals for city and county government;

d. By complying with federal reporting requirements concerning affirmative action and equal opportunity; and

e. By reviewing policies and procedures of the city and the county to eliminate discriminatory practices.

(2) To monitor contract compliance as follows:

a. By ensuring compliance with federal grant requirements respective to the utilization of minority business enterprises (MBE) and women business enterprises (WBE);

b. By reviewing city-county contracts to assure compliance with relevant federal, state and local laws and regulations on affirmative action and equal employment;

c. By functioning as a liaison between the city-county and it's contractors by providing technical assistance in developing affirmative action goals and monitoring these compliance efforts to meet established goals; and

d. By managing and implementing the MBE/WBE programs, and by monitoring city and county purchasing as specified in section 16-1(3).

(3) To receive, investigate and adjudicate community complaints as specified in sections 16-18 through 16-28.

Section 16-6. Same - General powers and duties
In addition to the functions previously mentioned in section 16-5, the office shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)To gather and distribute information for the purpose of improving human relations and removing inequities to protected groups in the areas of housing, recreation, education, employment, law enforcement, vocational guidance and related matters.

(2)To assist other governmental and private agencies, groups and individuals in reducing community tensions and preventing conflicts between persons of different racial, ethnic and religious groups.

(3)To discourage persons from engaging in discriminatory practices through informal methods of persuasion and conciliation and through programs of public information and education.

(4)To furnish technical assistance upon request to persons to assist them in eliminating discriminatory practices or otherwise implementing the policy and purposes of the Indiana Civil Rights Act.

(5) To make such general investigations, studies and surveys as the office shall deem necessary for the performance of its duties.

(6) To prepare and submit at least annually a report of its activities to the mayor and to the public, which report shall describe the investigations and proceedings conducted by the office, the outcome thereof and the progress and the achievements of the office and the community toward elimination of discriminatory practices.

(7) To cooperate with the Indiana State Civil Rights Commission, any appropriate federal, state or local agencies, and with private organizations, individuals and neighborhood associations in order to effectuate the purposes of this chapter and to further compliance with federal, state and local laws and ordinances prohibiting discriminatory practices.

(8) To perform any other duties assigned by ordinance or the mayor.