(a) The following
words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Act-The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
(43 P. S. §§
951-963).
Adult-An individual who is 18 years of
age or older.
Chairperson-The Chairperson of the
Commission.
Commission-The Human Relations
Commission of the Commonwealth, its Commissioners, staff and counsel.
Complaint-A complaint as required under
the act, the Fair Educational Opportunities Act or this chapter.
Fair Educational Opportunities Act-The
Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act (24 P. S. §§
5001-5010).
Fair Housing Act-The Fair Housing Act of
1968 (42 U.S.C.A.
§§
3601 -
3619.
Motions commissioner-A commissioner
designated under §
42.131 (relating to motions
commissioners and motions examiners).
Motions examiner-An examiner designated
under §
42.131.
Office of the agency-The appropriate
Regional Office of the Commission.
Party-The complainant or the
respondent.
Staff-The term includes, but is not
limited to, the Executive Director and deputy directors, regional directors and
other personnel the Commission may appoint. Duties of the staff include, but
are not limited to, the following:
(i)
Receiving, initiating, amending, processing, serving and investigating formal
and informal complaints.
(ii)
Conducting conferences, conciliations and other meetings for which the
regulations and the applicable statutes provide.
(iii) Conducting other investigations for
which the applicable statutes provide.
(iv) Determining whether or not probable
cause exists to credit the allegations of the complaint.
(v) Advising and educating the public and
issuing publications, notices, recommendations and guidelines to effectuate the
policies and purposes of the applicable statutes.
Staff counsel-The staff of attorneys
designated by the Commission to give legal assistance to complainants appearing
before the Commission. The term does not include the permanent hearing
examiners and other attorneys designated by the Commission to render legal
advice to Commissioners on complaints before the Commissioners for public
hearing.