Relating to local civil rights commissions

This bill relates to local civil rights commissions or agencies. The bill provides that any complaint that is filed with a local commission or agency where a party is a political subdivision shall be referred to the Iowa civil rights commission for processing. The bill provides that a local agency or commission complaint, upon request by any party, shall be transferred to the Iowa civil rights commission for processing if the complaint alleges a violation of the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965 and has not been resolved within months of the filing date of the complaint. The bill requires the local agency or commission to within 300 days of the filing date of the complaint: (1) send notice to all parties of the party’s right to direct transfer to the Iowa civil rights commission after months by verified mail, or electronic notice, and (2) cross file a complaint with the Iowa civil rights commission if the local agency or commission complaint arises from an alleged violation of a state law, rule, or regulation under the jurisdiction of the Iowa civil rights commission. The bill does not prohibit a local agency or commission from cross filing a complaint with any other federal or state agency, commission, or entity, if the local agency or commission complaint arises from an alleged violation of a state or federal law, rule, or regulation of a state or federal agency, commission, or entity. The bill provides that the term of a commissioner of a local agency or commission is two years.