GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 399

Short Title:  Reporting Ethnic Harassment.	(Public)
─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors: Senators Martin of Guilford; and Richardson.
─────────────────────────────────────── 
Referred to:  Judiciary II.
─────────────────────────────────────── 

March 13, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE UNIFORM REPORTING OF ACTS OF ETHNIC HARASSMENT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The General Statutes are amended by adding a new Chapter to read:
“Chapter 99E.
"Uniform Reporting of Ethnic Harassment.
"§ 99E-1.  Reporting of ethnic harassment.
(a)	The North Carolina Human Relations Council shall collect, analyze, and disseminate information relating to acts of ethnic harassment in North Carolina.  This information shall be used for understanding, preventing, and eliminating ethnic harassment, as well as assisting its victims.  For the purposes of this Chapter, an ‘act of ethnic harassment' means (i) a criminal act committed apparently because of race, religion, or ethnicity, or (ii) any act apparently intended to intimidate or harass a person or persons because of race, religion, or ethnicity.
(b)	The following persons and agencies shall report to the North Carolina Human Relations Council all acts of ethnic harassment:
(1)	State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, with respect to acts of ethnic harassment occurring within their jurisdictions;
(2)	Public school superintendents and principals, with respect to acts of ethnic harassment occurring in the schools over which their authority extends; and
(3)	Departments and agencies of State government, with respect to acts of ethnic harassment they become aware of during the course of their business.
The North Carolina Human Relations Council shall encourage other knowledgeable persons and organizations to report acts of ethnic harassment.
(c)	The content, form, time, and manner of reports made pursuant to this Chapter shall be prescribed by the North Carolina Human Relations Council."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 143B-391 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B-391. North Carolina Human Relations Council – creation; powers and duties.
There is hereby created the North Carolina Human Relations  Council of the Department of Administration. The North Carolina Human Relations Council shall have the following functions and duties:
(1) 	To study problems concerning human relations;
(2) 	To promote equality of opportunity for all citizens;
(3) 	To promote understanding, respect, and goodwill among all citizens;
(4) 	To provide channels of communication among the races;
(5) 	To encourage the employment of qualified people without regard to race;
(6) 	To encourage youths to become better trained and               qualified for employment;
(7) 	To receive on behalf of the Department of Administration and  to recommend expenditure of gifts and grants from public and private donors;
(8) 	To enlist the cooperation and assistance of all State and local government officials in the attainment of the objectives of the Council;
(9) 	To assist local good neighborhood councils and biracial human relations committees in promoting activities related to the functions of the Council enumerated above;
(10)	To advise the Secretary of Administration upon any matter the Secretary may refer to it; 
(11)	To administer the provisions of the State Fair Housing Act as outlined in Chapter 41A of the General Statutes;
(12)	To administer the provisions of Chapter 99E of the General Statutes; and
(13)	To adopt rules to implement and interpret its functions and duties outlined in this Chapter."
Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective October 1, 1989.