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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: January 19, 2021 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-b <br /> SUBJECT: Amendment to the Code of Ordinances — Non-Discrimination Ordinance <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Attorney <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Draft Ordinance John Roberts, County Attorney, 245- <br /> Resolution 2318 <br /> PURPOSE: To amend the Code of Ordinances to add a Non-Discrimination Ordinance. <br /> BACKGROUND: In 2016 the North Carolina General Assembly adopted House Bill 2, widely <br /> known as the "bathroom bill." This law had the effect of discriminating against transgender <br /> people in the use of public facilities and established a limited statewide non-discrimination law <br /> while simultaneously prohibiting local governments from adopting their own non-discrimination <br /> ordinances. In 2017 Governor Roy Cooper signed a repeal of the bathroom bill. Among the <br /> terms of that repeal was a provision that repealed the prohibition on local governments enacting <br /> non-discrimination ordinances, and it provided that local governments could only consider action <br /> after December 1, 2020. In early 2020 the Board instructed the County Attorney to draft a non- <br /> discrimination ordinance for consideration by the Board. The draft ordinance was submitted to <br /> the Human Relations Commission for review and comment and the Commission's <br /> recommendations are incorporated. The attached draft non-discrimination ordinance is offered <br /> for the Board's consideration. <br /> If adopted the ordinance would: <br /> • Establish a clear policy of non-discrimination in Orange County. <br /> • Create a protected class consisting of persons who may not be discriminated against <br /> based on "age (as defined in the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance), race, ethnicity, <br /> color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, <br /> marital status, familial status, source of income, disability, political affiliation, veteran <br /> status, disabled veteran status." <br /> • Prohibit the denial to any person the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, <br /> facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public <br /> accommodation on the basis of protected class status. <br /> • Prohibit the printing, circulation, posting, or mailing of a statement, advertisement, or sign <br /> which indicates that the full and equal enjoyment of the transportation, access, goods, <br /> services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public <br />