PINTO SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON EXPANDING PENALTIES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

COMMITTEE NEWS RELEASE: May 31, 2007

Contact: Steve Bass, Committee Coordinator
Tel: (914) 995-5482; SteveB@westchesterlegislators.com

On Monday, June 4 at 7:30 PM, the public will have an opportunity to provide input on whether the county should expand the penalty powers of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission.

County Legislator Vito Pinto (D-Tuckahoe), Chair of the Board’s Legislation Committee said, “The County Human Rights Commission members told us that to be more effective they needed to be able to enforce a wider range of fines on people who discriminate. Over the past several months, the Committee has worked hard to come to consensus on what amendments are necessary.”

The changes considered include the following:

• Allow the assessment of up to $10,000 in punitive damages in all cases where the discriminatory behavior was found to be “willful, wanton or malicious.”
• In cases initiated by the Commission’s Executive Director, would add the imposition of civil penalties to the existing power to order a cease and desist.
• Would introduce assessing civil penalties ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, payable to the county, in serious cases of housing discrimination;
• Allow a person to be reimbursed for the costs incurred in pursuing a discrimination complaint before the Commission.

“The legislation we developed gives the Commission “more teeth” in the enforcement area,” said Pinto. “Giving the Commission the flexibility to impose stiffer penalties will help to deter discriminatory behavior while also providing discrimination victims a fairer resolution of their cases.”

The public hearing will take place in the County Board Chamber located on the 8th floor of the Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains.