a. to develop policy proposals for the State and assist with coordinating efforts to promote prejudice reduction and prevent and deter crimes based upon the victim’s race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or physical, mental or cognitive disability;

b. to assist in diffusing tensions in communities affected by such crimes;

c. to act as a clearinghouse for information and program ideas among the existing county human relations commissions;

d. to assist the efforts of the county human relations commissions in relieving tensions within the community;

e. to assist in providing training programs for members of the county human relations commissions and other interested community leaders;

f. to develop and present a biennial report to the Governor and Legislature on the status of bias and violence based upon race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or physical, mental or cognitive disability;

g. to establish and maintain a listing of conflict resolution programs and experts to be available as a resource for communities in time of crisis;

h. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2016, c.23)

i. to develop in conjunction with the Department of Education and the educational, civil rights and human relations communities educational programs intended to educate, encourage, develop, promote and strengthen respect for human rights and cultural diversity and prevent and combat racism, intolerance and bigotry;

j. to assist local communities in establishing local human relations commissions;

k. to assess changes in local demographics and assist communities in adapting to minority population shifts;

l. to assist State, county and local government agencies with multi-cultural awareness programs;

m. to require that the representatives from the county human relations commissions report back to the counties regarding the work and activities of the State council;

n. to provide conciliation assistance and conduct all activities in confidence and without publicity; and

o. to make recommendations to governmental entities for the development of policies and procedures in general and for programs of formal and informal education that will aid in eliminating all types of discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or physical, mental or cognitive disability.

L.1997,c.257,s.2, amended 2016, c.23, s.3.