(b) Upon the commission’s own initiative or whenever an aggrieved individual or an organization
chartered for the purpose of or engaged in combating discrimination or racism or of
safeguarding civil liberties, that organization acting on behalf of one or more individuals
being hereinafter referred to as the complainant, makes a charge, in writing, under
oath, to the commission that any person, agency, bureau, corporation, or association,
hereinafter referred to as the respondent, has violated or is violating, to the best
of complainant’s knowledge and belief, any of the provisions of this chapter, and
that the alleged discriminatory housing practice has occurred or terminated within
one year of the date of filing, the commission may initiate a preliminary investigation
and if it shall determine after the investigation that it is probable that unlawful
housing practices have been or are being engaged in, it shall endeavor to eliminate
the unlawful housing practices by informal methods of conference, conciliation, and
persuasion. Nothing said or done during these endeavors may be used as evidence in
any subsequent proceeding. If after the investigation and conference, the commission
is satisfied that any unlawful housing practice of the respondent will be eliminated,
it may, with the consent of the complainant, treat the charge as conciliated, and
entry of that disposition shall be made on the records of the commission. If the commission
fails to effect the elimination of the unlawful housing practices and to obtain voluntary
compliance with this chapter, or, if the circumstances warrant, in advance of any
preliminary investigation or endeavors, the commission shall have the power to issue
and cause to be served upon any person or respondent a complaint stating the