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An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, Division 2, entitled "County Government Operations," Chapter 215, entitled "Boards, Commissions and Committees," Article V, entitled "Human Relations Commission," in order to establish a Countywide nondiscrimination requirement in medical treatment settings.
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WHEREAS, Allegheny County has had a longstanding policy against discrimination, and this policy is incorporated into the Administrative Code of Allegheny County insofar as it relates to County employment, contract, and other activities;
WHEREAS, human relations commissions or their equivalents exist throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including those established by the City of Allentown, the City of Harrisburg, the City and County of Lancaster, the City of Philadelphia, the City of Pittsburgh, the City of Reading and Berks County, and the City of York, in order to provide local administration of local antidiscrimination laws and dispute mediation in cases of alleged discrimination; and
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and Supreme Court have both explicitly found that local antidiscrimination ordinances are not preempted by the terms of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 P.S. §§951-953; and
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has explicitly found that local antidiscrimination ordinances are permissible exercises of local authority, and are not prohibited under the terms of the Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law, 53 P.S. §§2901-3171; and
WHEREAS, on July 6, 2009, former Chief Executive Onorato signed Bill. No. 4201-08 into law; and
WHEREAS, the provisions of 4201-08, enacted at 26-09-OR and codified in Chapter 215, Article V of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, prohibit discrimination based upon race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, mari...
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