Administering and enforcing Montana's human rights laws : wanted: a more just, effective, and efficient resolution of cases and complaints : a report to the Governor and the 54th Legislature

110 Pages·1994·2.2 MB·English

by  Maly, Stephen

Montana
Library
State
This cover sheet created by Internet Archive for formatting.

Malyt Stephen
8«3 Administering
3raero and enforcing
94 Montana's human
rights laws
AND ENFORCING
ADMINISTERING
LAWS
MONTANA'S HUMAN RIGHTS
WANTED: A MORE JUST, EFFECTIVE,
AND RESOLUTION OF CASES
EFFICIENT
AND COMPLAINTS
A Report to the Governor and 54th Legislature
November 1994 STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTl
FEB 1 1395
.... L M^ONT&ANA»STA«TE «LIBRoARY
Published, by
"Montana Legislative Council
Montana Legislative Council
Room 38
State Capitol, 1
Helena, Montana 59620-1706
PHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
AjjJL '> MONTANASTATELIBRARY
S328.3L13raem1994c.1Maly
A»Ua.G._ 2 3 J995 AdministeringandenforcingMontana'shu
3 0864 00092285 9
ADMINISTERING AND ENFORCING MONTANA'S HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS
Wanted: A More Just, Effective, and Efficient Resolution
of Cases and Complaints
A Report to the Governor and the 54th Legislature
Prepared by:
Stephen Maly, Staff Researcher
November 1994
Published by
Montana Legislative Council
Room 1 38, State Capitol
Helena, MT 59620-1706
PHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
Senator Delwyn Gage, Chairman
Robert B. Person, Executive Director
Gregory Petesch, Director, Legal Services Division
David D. Bohyer, Director, Research and Reference Services Division
Henry Trenk, Director, Legislative Services Division

...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1 5
i
INTRODUCTION
1
I. BACKGROUND: THE LAW 3
1 Constitutional Foundation 3
2. Statutory Framework 4
CONTEXT
II. 11
1 The Problem 11
2. Deeper Problems 13
3. Historical Trends 19
4. Current Conditions and Outlook 20
Endnotes 27
III. SITUATION DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS 31
1 Staff/Caseload Relationships 34
2. Agency Goals and Performance Standards 40
3. Budget/Cost Overview 42
Endnotes 45
IV. ISSUES, OPTIONS, AND OUTCOMES 47
Option 1 . Improve Staff Efficiency 48
Option 2. Increase Investigatory Staff 50
Option 3. Modify the HRC's Operations and Procedures 52
A. Remove the Exclusive Remedy Provision 53
B. Pursue Litigation 54
Option 4. Emphasize Preventive Education 57
A. Organize an Interagency Working Group 60
B. Develop a Comprehensive Seminar 60
C. Convene a Review Panel on Human Rights Law
in Montana 61
D. Create or Amend Incentives for Compliance
and Cooperation 62
Option 5. Create a Special Court, Similar to the
Workers' Compensation Court 64
Option 6. Consider a Statute Patterned After the
Montana Safety Culture Act 67
Option 7. Abolish the Agency 69
Endnotes 73
V. CONCLUSION 77
Endnotes 85
APPENDIX: WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS 87
Natural Versus Positive Rights 87
Universal Human Rights -- Are They Available Locally? 89
The Balance Between Rights and Responsibilities 90
Summary and Conclusion 91
Endnotes 93
;

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15