NY Exec L § 295 (2021)
2021 New York Laws EXC - Executive Article 15 - Human Rights Law 295 - General Powers and Duties of Division.

§ 295. General  powers  and  duties  of division. The division, by and through the commissioner or  his  or  her  duly  authorized  officer  or employee, shall have the following functions, powers and duties:   1.  To  establish  and  maintain  its principal office, and such other offices within the state as it may deem necessary.   2. To function at any place within the state.   3. To appoint such officers, attorneys, clerks and other employees and agents, consultants and special committees as it may deem necessary, fix their compensation within the limitations provided by law, and prescribe their duties.   4. To obtain upon request and utilize the services of all governmental departments and agencies.   5.  To  adopt,  promulgate,  amend  and  rescind  suitable  rules  and regulations  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  this  article, and the policies and practices of the division in connection therewith.   6. (a) To receive,  investigate  and  pass  upon  complaints  alleging violations of this article.  (b) Upon its own motion, to test and investigate and to make, sign and file  complaints  alleging  violations  of  this article and to initiate investigations and studies to carry out the purposes of this article.   7.   To   hold   hearings,   to   provide   where   appropriate    for cross-interrogatories,  subpoena  witnesses,  compel  their  attendance, administer oaths, take the testimony of any person under  oath,  and  in connection  therewith,  to require the production for examination of any books or papers  relating  to  any  matter  under  investigation  or  in question  before  the  division.  The  division may make rules as to the issuance of subpoenas which may be issued by the division at  any  stage of any investigation or proceeding before it.   In  any such investigation or hearing, the commissioner, or an officer duly designated by the commissioner to  conduct  such  investigation  or hearing,  may  confer  immunity  in  accordance  with  the provisions of section 50.20 of the criminal procedure law.   8. To create such advisory councils, local, regional or state-wide, as in its judgment will aid in effectuating the purposes  of  this  article and  of section eleven of article one of the constitution of this state, and  the  division  may  empower  them  to   study   the   problems   of discrimination  in  all  or specific fields of human relationships or in specific instances of discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual  orientation,  gender  identity  or  expression, military   status,   sex,   disability   or   marital  status  and  make recommendations to the division for  the  development  of  policies  and procedures  in  general and in specific instances. The advisory councils also shall disseminate information about the  division's  activities  to organizations   and  individuals  in  their  localities.  Such  advisory councils shall be composed of representative citizens,  serving  without pay, but with reimbursement for actual and necessary traveling expenses; and   the  division  may  make  provision  for  technical  and  clerical assistance to such councils and for the expenses of such assistance.   9. To develop human rights plans and policies for the state and assist in their execution and to make investigations and studies appropriate to effectuate this article and to issue such publications and such  results of  investigations  and research as in its judgement will tend to inform persons of the rights assured and remedies provided under this  article, to promote good-will and minimize or eliminate discrimination because of age,  race,  creed,  color,  national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military  status,  sex,  disability  or  marital status.    10.  To render each year to the governor and to the legislature a full written report of all its activities and of its recommendations.   11.  To  inquire  into  incidents  of and conditions which may lead to tension and conflict among racial, religious and nationality groups  and to take such action within the authority granted by law to the division, as may be designed to alleviate such conditions, tension and conflict.   12.  To  furnish  any  person  with  such  technical assistance as the division deems appropriate to further compliance with  the  purposes  or provisions of this article.   13.  To  promote  the  creation  of human rights agencies by counties, cities,  villages  or  towns  in  circumstances   the   division   deems appropriate.   14.  To  accept,  with  the  approval of the governor, as agent of the state, any grant, including federal grants, or any gift for any  of  the purposes  of this article. Any moneys so received may be expended by the division to effectuate any purpose of this article, subject to the  same limitations  as  to approval of expenditures and audit as are prescribed for state moneys appropriated for the purposes of this article.   15. To adopt an official seal.   16. To have concurrent jurisdiction with the New York city  commission on  human  rights  over the administration and enforcement of title C of chapter one of the administrative code of the city of New York.