§ 2-4. Powers and duties of Commission.

The Commission is authorized to and shall:

(1) formulate and carry out a comprehensive educational and action program designed to eliminate and prevent prejudice and discrimination in the City of Baltimore;

(2) initiate studies concerning the current status of civil rights, inter-group relations, and discriminatory practices;

(3) conduct and publish an annual survey or community audit of the status of human rights in the City of Baltimore;

(4) create such advisory councils, committees, or subcommittees as in the judgment of the Commission will aid in carrying out the purposes of this article and to cooperate with such councils, committees, or subcommittees toward such ends;

(5) receive and investigate and seek to resolve all complaints of unlawful practices forbidden by this article, but no complaints shall be received unless made to the Commission within 300 days of such alleged unlawful practice;

(6) make appropriate findings as a result of any of its investigations;

(7) from time to time, but not less than once a year, render to the Mayor and City Council a written report of its activities and recommendations for legislation as in the judgment of the Commission is necessary or desirable to aid it in carrying out its purposes and functions under this article;

(8) subject to Title 4 {"Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations"} of the City General Provisions Article, adopt and publish such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Commission and to effectuate the purposes and provisions of this article;

(9) consult with such advisory agencies and conciliation councils as will aid in effectuating the purposes of this article;

(10) conduct investigations and studies and hold public hearings for the purpose of determining the existence of problems, practices, or conditions in the areas placed under its jurisdiction by this or any other ordinance or by State or Federal law;

(11) in the enforcement of this article, issue subpoenas and compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, records, and documents relevant or necessary for hearings, investigations, and proceedings. Any such subpoena shall be served by the Sheriff of Baltimore City or any of his deputies. In case of disobedience to a subpoena, the Commission may apply to the court of appropriate jurisdiction of Baltimore City for an order requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, records, and documents. Said court may, in case of contumacy or refusal to obey any such subpoena, after notice to the person subpoenaed, and upon finding that the attendance or testimony of such witnesses or the production of such books, papers, records, and documents, as the case may be, is relevant or necessary for such hearings, investigations, or proceedings of the Commission, issue an order requiring the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, records and documents, or any of them, and any failure to obey such order of said court may be punished by such court as contempt thereof.

(12) to cooperate, negotiate, and contract on behalf of the City with any state or federal agency functioning or having jurisdiction in the same area as the Commission, with respect to the subject matter of this article, to the end that duplication of effort in said areas may be avoided.