N.Y. General Municipal Law § 239-q: General duties and powers

§ 239-q. General duties and powers. 1. It shall be the duty of the

commission:

(a) To foster mutual respect and understanding among all ages, races,

creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or

expression, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic

characteristics, familial status, marital status and domestic violence

victim status groups in the community.

(b) To make such studies in any field of human relationship in the

community as in the judgment of the commission will aid in effectuating

its general purposes and where desirable, to make the results of such

studies public.

(c) To inquire into incidents of tension and conflict among or between

various racial, religious and nationality groups, and to take such

action as may be designed to alleviate such tensions and conflict.

(d) To conduct and recommend such educational programs as, in the

judgment of the commission, will increase goodwill among inhabitants of

the community and open new opportunities into all phases of community

life for all inhabitants.

2. In addition to all other powers, the commission, where and to the

extent authorized by local law or ordinance, shall have the power:

a. To report complaints to the division of human rights alleging

unlawful discriminatory practices under article fifteen of the executive

law.

b. To receive, accept and use and expend public grants and private

gifts, donations or bequests and other payments, goods and services,

notwithstanding any other provision of law.