Substitute Bill No. 7303 Summary

• Authorizes the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities' legal counsel to represent the state's interests in civil rights cases and intervene in suits as a matter of right without court permission (effective October 1, 2017).

• Allows the executive director to assign legal counsel to bring civil actions in Superior Court instead of holding administrative hearings when determined to be in the public interest, with civil penalties up to $10,000 payable to the commission (effective October 1, 2017).

• Protects the commission's budget by prohibiting the Governor from reducing allotment requisitions or allotments for the commission, with budget recommendations coming directly from the executive director (effective July 1, 2017).

• Restructures complaint processing procedures including: case assessment review within 60 days of respondent's answer, mandatory mediation conferences, investigator assignments, and requires presiding officers to issue final decisions within 18 months of complaint certification (effective October 1, 2017).

• Shortens the time for complainants to bring civil action after dismissal from 90 days to 60 days and establishes that motions to reopen cases must be filed within one year with expanded grounds including fraud or misconduct by adverse parties (effective October 1, 2017).