Whenever the Attorney General receives a complaint and has cause to believe that a person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of any of the rights secured by the provisions of Article 1, and that the pattern or practice is of a nature so as to deny the full exercise of the rights described in the provisions of Article 1, the Attorney General shall notify the State Law Enforcement Division which shall conduct an investigation. The results of this investigation must be reported to the State Human Affairs Commission. A panel of not fewer than three commission members, designated by the chairman, shall determine if there is reasonable cause to believe that the facts alleged, based upon the results of this investigation, are sufficient to state a violation of Article 1 by a pattern or practice of discrimination or segregation.

If this panel finds reasonable cause, the chairman shall inform the Attorney General, and the Attorney General or his designee shall begin an action by filing a complaint with the commission and serving, by certified mail, return receipt requested, the parties named in the complaint. The commission members which serve on this panel may not serve on the panel conducting a hearing on the allegations contained in the complaint if a license revocation proceeding is initiated. If a person alleged to have violated the provisions of Article 1 by a pattern or practice of discrimination or segregation is an employee or agent of an establishment as defined in Section 45-9-10, the Attorney General shall make a diligent effort to include in the complaint the name of the employer, principal, or a third party who may be the holder of a license or permit under which the establishment or an agent of the establishment operates. The complaint must set forth a description of the charges, including the facts pertaining to the pattern or practice of discrimination or segregation and a listing of those licenses or permits which are sought to be revoked under the provisions of this article and must state clearly the remedy or penalty available pursuant to Sections 45-9-60 and 45-9-80 if the allegations are found to be true.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 423, Section 1, eff April 25, 1990.