Hanover Area Diversity Alliance, with encouragement from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, will be bringing a proposal regarding development of a cooperative human relations commission to Penn, West Manheim, and Conewago Townships, as well as Hanover & McSherrystown Boroughs.  The local commission would be volunteer-based with some funding provided by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.  By creating a joint commission, it allows consistency of law throughout the area, legal cooperation against entities who may operate in more than one municipal area, and increased funding opportunities resulting in lower costs for each cooperating municipality.

The primary purpose of the Hanover Area Human Relations Commission would be four-fold:  1) to develop a common human relations ordinance that could be applied universally across the area in support of our citizens regardless of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or age.  2) to accept and review complaints of discrimination with the ability to hold accountable or recommend charges against those who are considered to be in violation of the human relations ordinance.  (Such a case would be sent to a court for a legal determination of violation.)  3) to encourage the removal of outdated laws which are determined to be discriminatory in nature.  4) to allow increased cooperation between local municipalities and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.