Section 1-13-70 - Powers of CommissionThe Commission shall have the power:
(a) To establish and maintain its principal office in the city of Columbia and such other offices within the State as it may deem necessary.(c) To promulgate, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, regulations including, but not limited to, regulations requiring the posting of notices prepared or approved by the Commission and the submission of equal employment opportunity plans and reports by any state agency or department or local subdivisions of a state agency or department, according to a format and schedule approved by the Commission.(d) To formulate policies to effectuate the purposes of this chapter and to make recommendations to appropriate parties in furtherance of such policies.(e) To obtain and utilize upon request the services of all governmental departments and agencies.(f) To create or recognize advisory agencies and conciliation councils, local, regional, or statewide, as will aid in effectuating the purposes of this chapter and of Section 3 of Article I of the Constitution of this State. The commission may empower these agencies and councils to study problems of discrimination in all or specific fields of human affairs or in specific instances of discrimination because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability and to foster through community effort, or otherwise, goodwill, cooperation, and conciliation among the groups and elements of the population of the State. These agencies and councils also may make recommendations to the commission for the development of policies and procedures in general and in specific instances and for programs of formal or informal education which the commission may in turn recommend to the appropriate state agency. These advisory agencies and conciliation councils, as far as practicable, must be composed of representative citizens.(g) To seek the understanding and cooperation of or to enter into agreement with any existing or later-created councils, agencies, commissions, task forces, institutions or organizations, public or private, which are, in the judgment of the Commission, dedicated to the promotion of human rights and affairs.(h) To issue publications and results of investigations and research as in its judgment will tend to promote goodwill and the betterment of human affairs.(i) To require from any state agency or department or local subdivisions of a state agency or department such reports and information at such times as it may deem reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.(j) To prepare and distribute copies of this chapter, of any regulations promulgated pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, of policies formulated pursuant to subsection (d) of this section or of any other materials effectuating the purposes of this chapter; to make the chapter available to the public and to require the chapter to be posted in places conspicuous to employees of state agencies or departments or local subdivisions of a state agency or department and to applicants for employment therewith.(k) To cooperate with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 241) in order to achieve the purposes of that act and with other Federal, State and local agencies and departments.(l) To accept reimbursement pursuant to section 709(b) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 241) for services rendered to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.(m) To accept gifts or bequests, grants or other donations, public or private.(n) To investigate problems in human affairs in the State and in connection therewith, to hold hearings, to request the attendance of persons who shall give testimony, to receive for the record of any such hearing written statements, documents, exhibits and other items pertinent to the subject matter of any such hearing, and following any such investigation or hearing to issue such report and recommendations as in its opinion will assist in effectuating the purposes of this chapter.(o) To receive and resolve complaints in accordance with the provisions of Section 1-13-90.(p) Pursuant to subsections (e) and (i), if a person fails to permit access, or otherwise refuses to cooperate, the Commission may request an order of a court of competent jurisdiction requiring access and other related good faith compliance.(q) To furnish technical assistance requested by persons subject to this chapter to assist them in their compliance with this chapter, the regulations promulgated hereunder, a conciliation agreement or an order issued thereunder.(r) To petition for an order of a court of competent jurisdiction requiring compliance with an order issued by the Commission pursuant to the procedure set forth in item (16) of subsection (c) of Section 1-13-90; provided, that a complainant, respondent or intervenor aggrieved by an order of the Commission is entitled to judicial review. The procedure for compliance, enforcement or review shall be as set forth in item (19) of subsection (c) of Section 1-13-90.(s) To institute proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction, for cause shown, to prevent or restrain any person from violating any provision of this chapter.(t) To contract with persons and organizations to perform services as it may deem reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter and to accept reimbursement for services rendered pursuant to the contract.(u) To make contractual agreements, within the scope and authority of this chapter, with any agency of the federal government, which agreements may include provisions under which the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall refrain from processing a charge in South Carolina in any class specified in such agreements.(v) To perform the functions specified in this chapter.1996 Act No. 426, Section 4; 1979 Act No. 24 Sections 4-7; 1973 (58) 698; 1972 (57) 2651; 1962 Code Section 1-360.27.