Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee

Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities: Enforcement
Keypoints - Briefing

Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities (CHRO): Briefing Keypoints

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• Connecticut and federal anti-discrimination laws are very similar in nature. However, state law is generally broader than federal provisions.

   

• Authority to enforce these laws falls upon both federal and state agencies. CHRO has a workshare agreement with the pertinent federal agencies to process discrimination complaints for a fee.

   

• CHRO’s primary funding comes from the state General Fund. In FY 99, CHRO budget was $6 million, the majority of which is for personal services.

   

• CHRO is managed by an executive director appointed by a nine member commission. The agency is organized into four divisions and maintains four regional offices in Hartford, Norwich, Bridgeport, and Waterbury.

   

• The regional offices are responsible for receiving, investigating and mediating complaints of alleged discrimination filed with the commission.

   

• If a complaint proceeds through the entire process, it goes through three distinct phases: Merit Assessment Review (MAR), Full Investigation, and Public Hearing.

   

• Once filed, regional staff in the Merit Assessment Review Unit initially screen the merits of each complaint. The complaint is dismissed if it states no claim for relief, is frivolous on its face, or there is no reasonable possibility that reasonable cause will be found that a violation of law occurred.

   

• If dismissed after MAR, the complainant may request a reconsideration by the CHRO’s Special Enforcement Unit within 15 days of the decision. The complainant may also request a release to sue in court.

   

• If retained, the complaint moves to the Full Investigation Unit. Here, regional investigative staff hold fact finding conferences and promote voluntary resolution. If resolution is not possible, a determination is made whether there is reasonable cause to believe a discriminatory practice has been committed.

   

• If cause is found, the complaint is certified for public hearing where one of seven independent human rights referees conduct an administrative hearing. CHRO attorneys usually represent the agency at the hearing.

   

• If the referee determines a violation of law, he or she may order remedies available under the statutes. Either party may appeal the decision to court.

   

• In FY 99, CHRO received 2,250 complaints. Employment issues account for about 92 percent of cases. A high percentage of cases are dismissed at the MAR stage.

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