§2261. Findings of the commission; orders; nature of affirmative action

A. If the commission determines that the respondent has not engaged in an unlawful practice, the commission shall state its findings of fact and conclusions of law and shall issue an order dismissing the complaint. A copy of the order shall be delivered to the complainant, the respondent, the attorney general, and such other public officers and persons as the commission deems proper.

B. If the commission determines that the respondent has engaged in an unlawful practice, the commission shall state its findings of fact and conclusions of law and shall issue an order requiring the respondent to cease and desist from the unlawful practice and to take such affirmative action as in the judgment of the commission will carry out the purposes of this Chapter. A copy of the order shall be delivered to the respondent, the complainant, the attorney general, and to such other public officers and persons as the commission deems proper.

C. Affirmative action ordered under this Section may include but is not limited to:

(1) Hiring, reinstatement, or upgrading of employees with or without back pay. Interim earnings or amounts earnable with reasonable diligence by the person or persons discriminated against shall operate to reduce the back pay otherwise allowable.

(2) Admission or restoration of individuals to union membership, admission to or participation in a guidance program, apprenticeship training program, on-the-job training program, or other occupational training or retraining program, and the utilization of objective criteria in the admission of individuals to such programs.

(3) Admission of individuals to a place of public accommodation, resort, or amusement.

(4) The extension to all individuals of the full and equal enjoyment of the advantages, facilities, privileges, and services of the respondent.

(5) Reporting as to the manner of compliance.

(6) Posting notices in conspicuous places in the respondent's place of business in a form prescribed by the commission.

(7) Sale, exchange, lease, rental, assignment, or sublease of immovable property to an individual.

(8) Payment to the complainant of damages for injury caused by an unlawful practice, including compensation for humiliation and embarrassment, expenses incurred by the complainant in obtaining alternative housing accommodations, and other costs actually incurred by the complainant as a direct result of such unlawful practice.

D. The commission may publish or cause to be published the names of persons who have been determined to have engaged in an unlawful practice.

E. The proceeding for enforcement of a commission order shall be initiated by filing a complaint in the district court of the parish in which the subject of the complaint occurred or in the parish in which a respondent resides or has his principal place of business. Copies of the complaint shall be served upon all parties of record. Within thirty days after the filing of the complaint by the commission, or within such further time as the court may allow, the commission shall transmit to the court the original or a certified copy of the entire record upon which the order is based, including a transcript of testimony, which need not be printed. By stipulation of all parties to the proceeding, the record may be shortened.

F. The findings of fact of the commission shall be conclusive unless manifestly erroneous in view of the probative and substantive evidence on the whole record. The court may grant such temporary relief or restraining order as it deems just and may enter an order enforcing, modifying, and enforcing as modified, or setting aside in whole or in part the order of the commission, or remanding the case to the commission for further proceedings.

Acts 1988, No. 886, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1314, §1, eff. July 1, 1995.