Cal. Civ. Code § 958.1
Investigatory Hearings Relating to Racial Problems
Operative Text
Whenever any problem of racial discrimination or racial tension arises, the Commission may immediately hold an investigatory hearing. The place of any such hearing shall be in the county where the problem exists. The hearing may be public or private and the Commission shall have the same powers as provided in clause (g) for hearings on complaint filed. The purpose of the hearing shall be to resolve the problem promptly by the gathering of all the facts from all the interested parties and making such recommendations as may be necessary. The Commission shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity. The testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and be transcribed. Should the recommendations of the Commission not be accepted within a reasonable time the Commission may, with the consent of eight members, on its own behalf initiate a complaint and the hearing findings and Commission order shall proceed the same as where a complaint has been filed.
Under 43 P.S. § 958.1, Pennsylvania's Human Relations Commission is authorized to convene an investigatory hearing on its own initiative whenever a problem of racial discrimination or racial tension emerges, without waiting for a formal complaint to be filed. The hearing must take place in the county where the problem exists, may be held publicly or privately, and operates under relaxed evidentiary rules compared to a court of law, though testimony must be sworn and transcribed. If the Commission's resulting recommendations are not accepted within a reasonable time, the Commission may—with the approval of eight of its members—file a complaint on its own behalf and proceed through the same enforcement process that applies to complaints filed by individuals.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Pennsylvania should be aware that under 43 P.S. § 958.1, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission can initiate an investigatory hearing into racial discrimination or racial tension without a private party first filing a complaint. Compliant operators generally maintain nondiscriminatory policies and practices so that, if the Commission does convene such a hearing in their county, they are positioned to cooperate fully and provide accurate information to all interested parties. If the Commission issues recommendations following a hearing, operators who engage with those recommendations promptly and in good faith are acting consistently with the statute's goal of resolving problems without escalating to a formal complaint proceeding.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 43 P.S. § 958.1, tenants who experience or witness racial discrimination or racial tension in housing have the benefit of knowing that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission can act proactively—holding an investigatory hearing in the affected county even before any individual complaint is filed. Tenants may participate as interested parties in such hearings, providing sworn testimony that becomes part of the official record. Those who believe this provision is relevant to their situation may consider contacting the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission directly, reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization, or consulting an attorney familiar with Pennsylvania fair housing law to understand the range of options available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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