New York Consolidated Laws, General Municipal Law - GMU § 239-q. General duties and powers

(a) To foster mutual respect and understanding among all ages, races, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status and domestic violence victim status groups in the community.

(b) To make such studies in any field of human relationship in the community as in the judgment of the commission will aid in effectuating its general purposes and where desirable, to make the results of such studies public.

(c) To inquire into incidents of tension and conflict among or between various racial, religious and nationality groups, and to take such action as may be designed to alleviate such tensions and conflict.

(d) To conduct and recommend such educational programs as, in the judgment of the commission, will increase goodwill among inhabitants of the community and open new opportunities into all phases of community life for all inhabitants.

a. To report complaints to the division of human rights alleging unlawful discriminatory practices under article fifteen of the executive law.

b. To receive, accept and use and expend public grants and private gifts, donations or bequests and other payments, goods and services, notwithstanding any other provision of law.