(a) 
The Commission on Human Needs shall have the responsibility of administering and implementing this article.
(b) 
Any person who claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice or who believes that he will be irrevocably injured by a discriminatory housing practice that is about to occur (referred to as “person aggrieved”) may file a complaint with the commission. Any complaints shall be in writing and shall identify the person alleged to have committed or alleged to be about to commit the discriminatory housing practice and shall set forth the particulars thereof. The commission is directed to prepare and adopt from time to time standard complaint forms and to furnish them upon request, without charge, to any person aggrieved. The commission may assist in the clerical preparation of such complaints.
(c) 
If this article should be declared substantially equivalent to the Federal Fair Housing Law by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the commission shall receive and accept notification and referral of complaints from the secretary of the department, pursuant to the provisions of title VIII, Fair Housing Act of 1968, PL 90-284, and shall treat such complaints in the same manner as complaints filed directly by the person aggrieved.
(d) 
If, in the course of any investigation as provided in section 66-62 on a complaint filed with or referred to the commission, the commission shall receive credible evidence and shall have probable cause to believe that the person named in such complaint has committed a discriminatory housing practice not stated in such complaint, the commission may prepare and file a supplementary complaint upon its own motion and in its own name. Such complaint shall thereafter be treated in the same manner as a complaint filed by the person aggrieved.
(e) 
If at any time the administrator shall receive or discover credible evidence and shall have probable cause to believe that any person has committed a discriminatory housing practice as to which no complaint has been filed nor is about to be filed, the administrator may prepare and file a complaint upon his own motion and in his own name. Such complaint shall thereafter be treated in the same manner as a complaint filed by a person aggrieved.
(f) 
Upon the filing or referral of any complaint, the administrator shall furnish a copy of the complaint to the person named as respondent in the complaint.
(g) 
A complaint under subsections (b), (d), (e) and (f) of this section shall be filed within 180 days after the alleged discriminatory housing practice occurred. Complaints may be reasonably or fairly amended at any time. A respondent may file an answer to the complaint against him and, with the leave of the administrator, which shall be granted whenever it would be reasonable and fair to do so, may amend his answer at any time. A copy of any amendment to a complaint or an answer shall be furnished to the opposing party. Both complaints and answers shall be signed by the persons making them.
(1966 Code, sec. 13-18; 2001 Code, sec. 66-61)
(a) 
Upon the filing of a complaint valid on its face as provided in section 66-61, the administrator shall cause to be made a prompt investigation of the matter stated in the complaint.
(b) 
In connection with such investigation, the administrator may question and take and record testimony and statements of such persons who appeal and may examine, record, and copy documents which are produced.
(c) 
During or after the investigation, the administrator shall, if it appears that a discriminatory housing practice act has occurred or is about to occur, attempt by informal endeavors to effect conciliation, including voluntary discontinuance or rectification of the discriminatory housing practice and voluntary compliance with this article.
(d) 
If conciliation is effected, the administrator shall disclose nothing said or done in the course of such conciliation in such a way as to make public identification of the person named in the complaint without the written consent of the person concerned.
(1966 Code, sec. 13-20; 2001 Code, sec. 66-62)
(a) 
Upon completion of the investigation and informal endeavors at conciliation by the administrator as provided in this article, but within 60 days of the filing of the complaint with the administrator, if the administrator has concluded that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred and the efforts of the administrator to secure voluntary compliance have been unsuccessful, the administrator shall prepare and file a charge in municipal court and prosecute the charge to final conclusion as rapidly as practical.
(b) 
It is the intent of this article to increase the remedies which citizens may have to ensure their rights under federal, state, or local statutory or case law. Therefore, nothing in this article shall be construed as an administrative prerequisite to a citizen pursuing his rights under any other federal, state or local statute, case, decision, or administrative ruling.
(1966 Code, sec. 13-21; 2001 Code, sec. 66-63)