DUTIES: The Human Rights Commission was established to implement the San Jose Human Rights Policy and to develop programs promoting the fulfillment of human rights in the City. The Commission studies, reviews, evaluates and makes recommendations to the City Council relative to all matters affecting human rights including discrimination, equal employment opportunity policies and practices, and recommends courses of action regarding the City’s equal opportunity and equal access efforts and its programs relating to City employment.

RELATIONSHIPS: The City Council is the final decision-making body and the Human Rights Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the Council and works with staff members of the City Manager’s Office.

QUALIFICATIONS: The Commission consists of thirteen members who are representative of the entire community and who have an interest and commitment to human rights concerns. All members must be residents of San Jose.

MEETINGS: The Commission meets on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m., City Hall, W-120. On average, Commissioners spend 5 hours a month attending monthly meetings and an additional 7 hours per month on Commission business.

BENEFITS: There is no compensation for the members of the Human Rights Commission. However, from time to time, Commissioners may be reimbursed for some expenses incurred on City business.

POLITICAL REFORM ACT: The Conflict of Interest Section of the Political Reform Act applies to the Human Rights Commission; however, Commissioners are not required to file a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700).

APPOINTMENT PROCESS: All applications received are submitted to the Project Diversity Screening Committee for review according to the needs of the Commission as specified in a Needs Assessment Memo. Applications will be forwarded to the City Attorney for a Conflict of Interest review and thereafter, the applicants will be asked to appear before the Screening Committee Members for an interview. Following interviews, the Screening Committee will develop a list of applicants which will be submitted to the Council Member Liaison to the Commission. The Liaison will forward the list to the Rules Committee of Council either with or without a supplemental recommendation. The City Council makes the final appointment to the Commission based on Rules Committee recommendations.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Commission Members are expected to attend all Commission Meetings. San Jose Municipal Code Section 2.08.060 specifies that a Commissioner who has unexcused absences from any three consecutive regular meetings, or 20% of the meetings in a calendar year, is deemed to have resigned from the Commission.

For further information about the Commission, please contact the Commission Staff at 408-535-8110 or HRC@sanjoseca.gov.

04/07