Orange County NC Website
31 <br /> of public facilities and established a limited statewide non-discrimination law while <br /> 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 terms of that repeal was a provision that repealed the prohibition on local governments enacting 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 <br /> action after December 1, 2020. In early 2020 the Board instructed the County Attorney to draft <br /> a nondiscrimination ordinance for consideration by the Board. The draft ordinance was <br /> submitted to 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 <br /> sign which indicates that the full and equal enjoyment of the transportation, access, <br /> goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of <br /> public accommodation will be refused, withheld from, or denied any person on the basis <br /> of protected class status. <br /> • Prohibit actions which directly or indirectly result in an individual's bodily injury or <br /> property damage where such act is directed at an individual or a group of individuals <br /> because of that person's or that group's perceived or actual protected class status. <br /> • Require all potential contractors submitting a bid or proposal to certify they do not and <br /> will not discriminate against any person based on the protected class status and to <br /> require their subcontractors to do the same. Falsification or violation of the certification <br /> would result in rejection of the bid or proposal or termination of the contract. <br /> • Provide for the same investigation, enforcement, and remedies authorized by the <br /> Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance. The relevant enforcement provisions may be <br /> reviewed at <br /> https://Iibrary.municode.com/nc/orange county/codes/code of ordinances?nodeld=PT1 <br /> GEOR CH12CIRI <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Greene to <br /> adopt the Ordinance and Resolution of approval and authorize the Chair to sign the Resolution <br /> amending the Code of Ordinances. <br /> Annette Moore, Human Rights and Relations Director, emphasized the importance of <br /> the ordinance, and thanked the BOCC for its leadership. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 7. Reports <br /> NONE <br />