The council shall have the following functions, powers, and duties:

(a) To adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind suitable rules, regulations, and standards that do either of the following:

(1) Interpret, implement, and apply all provisions of this part, Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 11135) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of this code, and Sections 51, 51.5, 51.7, 54, 54.1, and 54.2 of the Civil Code.

(A) As of January 1, 2017, Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 98000), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 98100), and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 98200) of Division 8 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations shall be transferred from the portion of the California Code of Regulations that is under the authority of the California Health and Human Services Agency to the portion of the California Code of Regulations that is under the authority of the department, and upon transfer shall be deemed adopted by the council.

(B) The council shall, within existing resources and pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340), adopt additional regulations, as necessary, and amend or repeal, as necessary, regulations transferred to the department from the California Health and Human Services Agency relating to Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 11135) of Chapter 1 of Part 1.

(2) Carry out all other functions and duties of the council pursuant to this part.

(b) To meet at any place within the state and function in any office of the department.

(c) To create or provide technical assistance to any advisory agencies and conciliation councils, local or otherwise, as in its judgment will aid in effectuating the purposes of this part, and to empower them to study the problems of discrimination in all or specific fields of human relationships or in particular instances of employment discrimination on the bases enumerated in this part or in specific instances of housing discrimination on the bases enumerated in this part and to foster, through community effort or otherwise, good will, cooperation, and conciliation among the groups and elements of the population of the state and to make recommendations to the Fair Employment and Housing Council for the development of policies and procedures in general except for procedural rules and regulations that carry out the investigation, prosecution, and dispute resolution functions and duties of the department. These advisory agencies and conciliation councils shall be composed of representative citizens, serving without pay.

(d) To hold hearings, issue publications, results of inquiries and research, and reports to the Governor and the Legislature that, in its judgment, will tend to aid in effectuating the purpose of this part, promote good will, cooperation and conciliation, and minimize or eliminate unlawful discrimination, or advance civil rights in the State of California.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 870, Sec. 14. (SB 1442) Effective January 1, 2017.)