La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 51:2239
Additional powers of local commissions
Operative Text
§2239. Additional powers of local commissions A local commission established pursuant to this Chapter may: (1) Enter into cooperative working agreements with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, created by Section 705 of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 241) in order to achieve the purposes of that Act, and with any federal or state agency in order to achieve the purposes of this Chapter. (2) In its discretion, or upon request of the commission, refer a matter under its jurisdiction to the commission for initial action or review. (3) Refer to the commission for resolution a dispute with another local commission over jurisdiction or any other matter. (4) Provide a copy of its annual report to the commission.
La. R.S. § 51:2239 outlines the additional powers granted to local anti-discrimination commissions established under Louisiana's civil rights framework. Under this provision, these local bodies may enter into cooperative agreements with federal and state agencies—including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission—refer matters to the state commission for initial action or review, resolve jurisdictional disputes with other local commissions, and share annual reports with the state commission. The provision is designed to promote coordination between local, state, and federal civil rights enforcement bodies.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Louisiana should be aware that under La. R.S. § 51:2239, local civil rights commissions have the authority to coordinate with state and federal agencies, including the EEOC, and to refer housing-related complaints upward to the state commission. A compliant operator generally maintains records and documentation that can be shared across multiple levels of review, given that a local commission may escalate a matter at any time. Understanding that a complaint filed locally could be referred to or reviewed by the state commission helps operators prepare for the possibility of multi-agency involvement.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under La. R.S. § 51:2239, tenants who file a housing discrimination complaint with a local commission should know that the local body has the power to refer the matter to the state commission for initial action or broader review. This means a complaint may be handled at more than one level of government, and coordination with federal agencies like the EEOC is also possible. Tenants seeking to understand how these referral processes might affect their complaint can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Louisiana's civil rights enforcement structure.
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 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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