44-1004. Powers and duties of commission. The commission shall have the following functions, powers and duties:

(1) To establish and maintain its principal office in the city of Topeka, and such other offices elsewhere within the state as it may deem necessary.

(2) To meet and function at any place within the state.

(3) To adopt, promulgate, amend and rescind suitable rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this act, and the policies and practices of the commission in connection therewith.

(4) To receive, initiate, investigate and pass upon complaints alleging discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing because of race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry and complaints alleging discrimination in housing because of familial status.

(5) To subpoena witnesses, compel their appearance and require the production for examination of records, documents and other evidence or possible sources of evidence and to examine, record and copy such materials and take and record the testimony or statements of such persons. The commission may issue subpoenas to compel access to or the production of such materials, or the appearance of such persons, and may issue interrogatories to a respondent to the same extent and subject to the same limitations as would apply if the subpoena or interrogatories were issued or served in aid of a civil action in the district court. The commission shall have access at all reasonable times to premises and may compel such access by application to a court of competent jurisdiction provided that the commission first complies with the provisions of article 15 of the Kansas bill of rights and the fourth amendment to the United States constitution relating to unreasonable searches and seizures. The commission may administer oaths and take depositions to the same extent and subject to the same limitations as would apply if the deposition was taken in aid of a civil action in the district court. In case of the refusal of any person to comply with any subpoena, interrogatory or search warrant issued hereunder, or to testify to any matter regarding which such person may be lawfully questioned, the district court of any county may, upon application of the commission, order such person to comply with such subpoena or interrogatory and to testify. Failure to obey the court's order may be punished by the court as contempt. No person shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concerning which such person testifies or produces evidence, except that such person so testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying. The immunity herein provided shall extend only to natural persons.

(6) To act in concert with other parties in interest in order to eliminate and prevent discrimination and segregation, prohibited by this act, by including any term in a conciliation agreement as could be included in a final order under this act.

(7) To apply to the district court of the county where the respondent resides or transacts business for enforcement of any conciliation agreement by seeking specific performance of such agreement.

(8) To issue such final orders after a public hearing as may remedy any existing situation found to violate this act and prevent its recurrence.

(9) To endeavor to eliminate prejudice among the various ethnic groups and people with disabilities in this state and to further good will among such groups. The commission in cooperation with the state department of education shall prepare a comprehensive educational program designed for the students of the public schools of this state and for all other residents thereof, calculated to emphasize the origin of prejudice against such groups, its harmful effects and its incompatibility with American principles of equality and fair play.

(10) To create such advisory agencies and conciliation councils, local, regional or statewide, as in its judgment will aid in effectuating the purposes of this act; to study the problem of discrimination in all or specific fields or instances of discrimination because of race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry; to foster, through community effort or otherwise, good will, cooperation and conciliation among the groups and elements of the population of this state; and to make recommendations to the commission for the development of policies and procedures, and for programs of formal and informal education, which the commission may recommend to the appropriate state agency. Such advisory agencies and conciliation councils shall be composed of representative citizens serving without pay. The commission may itself make the studies and perform the acts authorized by this paragraph. It may, by voluntary conferences with parties in interest, endeavor by conciliation and persuasion to eliminate discrimination in all the stated fields and to foster good will and cooperation among all elements of the population of the state.

(11) To accept contributions from any person to assist in the effectuation of this section and to seek and enlist the cooperation of private, charitable, religious, labor, civic and benevolent organizations for the purposes of this section.

(12) To issue such publications and such results of investigation and research as in its judgment will tend to promote good will and minimize or eliminate discrimination because of race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry.

(13) To render each year to the governor and to the state legislature a full written report of all of its activities and of its recommendations.

(14) To adopt an official seal.

(15) To receive and accept federal funds to effectuate the purposes of the act and to enter into agreements with any federal agency for such purpose.

History: L. 1953, ch. 249, § 4; L. 1961, ch. 248, § 4; L. 1963, ch. 279, § 3; L. 1965, ch. 323, § 4; L. 1967, ch. 285, § 1; L. 1970, ch. 192, § 2; L. 1972, ch. 194, § 4; L. 1974, ch. 209, § 3; L. 1975, ch. 264, § 3; L. 1991, ch. 147, § 3; July 1.