Mich. Comp. Laws § § 37.2602

Department; powers and duties generally.

In Force
Verified 10/13/2026 · Next check 10/20/2026
effective 10/12/2026MichiganFair Housing & Anti-Discrimination

Operative Text

Mich. Comp. Laws § § 37.2602
Sec. 602.

The department shall:

(a) Be responsible to the executive director, who shall be the principal executive officer of the department and shall be responsible for executing the policies of the commission.

(b) Appoint necessary employees and agents and fix their compensation in accordance with civil service rules. The attorney general shall appear for and represent the department or the commission in a court having jurisdiction of a matter under this act.

(c) Receive, initiate, investigate, conciliate, adjust, dispose of, issue charges, and hold hearings on complaints alleging a violation of this act, and approve or disapprove plans to correct past discriminatory practices which have caused or resulted in a denial of equal opportunity with respect to groups or persons protected by this act.

(d) Require answers to interrogatories, order the submission of books, papers, records, and other materials pertinent to a complaint, and require the attendance of witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, and compel, through court authorization, compliance with its orders or an order of the commission.

(e) Cooperate or contract with persons and state, local, and other agencies, both public and private, including agencies of the federal government and of other states.

(f) Monitor the awarding and execution of contracts to ensure compliance by a contractor or a subcontractor with a covenant entered into or to be entered into pursuant to section 209.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Michigan Civil Rights Act § 37.2602 establishes the core administrative powers and duties of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. The department is authorized to receive and investigate discrimination complaints, hold hearings, issue charges, and compel compliance through the courts. It may also gather evidence through interrogatories, subpoenas, and witness testimony, and it can cooperate with other public and private agencies to carry out its civil rights mandate.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 13, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under MCL § 37.2602, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights has broad authority to investigate complaints of discriminatory practices in housing and other covered areas. Operators who receive a complaint or inquiry from the department are generally expected to respond to interrogatories, produce requested records, and cooperate with any conciliation or adjustment process. Compliant operators typically maintain documentation of their policies and practices so they can demonstrate adherence to the act if the department initiates a review.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

MCL § 37.2602 gives the Michigan Department of Civil Rights the power to receive, investigate, and act on complaints alleging violations of the state's civil rights law, including housing discrimination. Tenants who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with the department, which can then investigate, attempt conciliation, and pursue formal charges if warranted. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help individuals understand how the department's complaint and hearing process works under this provision.

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 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Expression #1
Oct 12, 2026
Current
Oct 12, 2026
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

MCL section 209
Not yet ingested

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

MCL § 37.2101
MCL § 37.2503
MCL § 37.2503
MCL § 37.2102
MCL § 37.2605
MCL § 37.2804
MCL § 37.2605
MCL § 37.2506
MCL § 37.2502
MCL § 37.2502

Related Rules

§ 5.106
§ 5.106 Equal access in accordance with the individual's gender identity in community planning and development programs.
§ 5.109
§ 5.109 Equal participation of faith-based organizations in HUD programs and activities.
§ 2
Policies; recommendations

Source Information

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Fetched:Oct 13, 2026, 02:17 AM UTC