Substitute Bill No. 5419 Summary

• Attorney General may investigate, intervene in, or bring civil or administrative actions seeking injunctive relief, declaratory relief, damages, and other available remedies for practices that deprive persons of constitutional or statutory rights or interfere with rights through threats, intimidation, or coercion.

• Attorney General may issue subpoenas and interrogatories during investigations, but information gathered cannot be used in criminal proceedings.

• Court may award damages to injured persons and civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation (established by clear and convincing evidence) against defendants, with penalties deposited into the General Fund.

• Attorney General may accept assurances of discontinuance from alleged violators in lieu of civil action; violation of such assurance constitutes prima facie proof of applicable law violations.

• Attorney General cannot bring actions during pending Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities matters involving the same parties and facts, and must comply with applicable statutes of limitations and cannot assert claims against state agencies or officials in their official capacity.