Committee discusses proposed Human Relations Commission charge changes; source‑of‑income provision faces legal question

The Finance Administration Committee reviewed proposed updates to the Human Relations Commission's charge on July 17, including a recommendation to add "source of income" as a protected characteristic and an explicit provision authorizing the commission to conduct education and outreach.

Staff and council members reported receipt of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision, forwarded by a staff member identified as John, that raises legal concerns about including source of income without a narrowly written exception. The court decision, as described in the meeting, suggests that an ordinance which could be read to require participation in a particular federal or state subsidy program might face legal challenges. Committee members discussed alternatives: include source of income but add an explicit exception clarifying that the ordinance should not be interpreted to require participation in any particular subsidy or program; or omit source of income from the ordinance and revisit it after further legal review.

Committee members supported explicitly adding education and community outreach to the commission's charge (modeled on Philadelphia's human relations work) and also noted a technical point that expanded complaint procedures are implemented by council resolution and may require a new resolution if the ordinance is changed. The committee tabled final action and intends to bring the legal question and proposed language to full council for further debate.