Baltimore County HRC chief of DEI to draft bylaw clarifying commissioner intake and investigation role

Rashawn Bridal, Baltimore County’s new chief of diversity, equity and inclusion and executive director for the Human Relations Commission, told commissioners at their Oct. 17 virtual meeting that the commission’s current bylaws do not clearly authorize commissioners to conduct intake and that he will produce an updated bylaw draft before the commission’s next meeting.

"Initially what we were thinking is that we have a subcommittee put together the bylaws and then present it," Bridal said. He added that the updated draft will "be an extension of" the section that allows commissioners to participate in investigations by explicitly addressing intake responsibilities and related provisions. Bridal said commissioners would need investigation training if they are to assume intake duties.

County legal counsel (identified as James) outlined the procedural steps for revising bylaws: staff may prepare an initial draft, the Office of Law will review it for legal sufficiency, the commission will discuss proposed changes in a public meeting, and the body will vote. Counsel said that if commissioners request legal advice during discussion, the commission could go into a closed session with counsel to address sensitive legal questions.

Bridal framed the change as intended to ensure the commission operates within its legal authority while improving its ability to receive and route complaints. "It gives us a better—we have more ears and more eyes on issues," he said, describing the goal as improving compliance and community support when complaints fall under Article 29 of the county code.

What’s next: Bridal committed to circulating a draft bylaw for review before the next meeting. Legal counsel said that once he receives proposed amendments they will review for legal sufficiency and the commission will vote on the final language as a body.