1 who is duty-bound to act on complaints for discrimination under this Act but fails or refuses to 2 do so, shall be deemed to have sanctioned the discriminatory act, and shall consequently be held 3 equally liable for discrimination. 4 5 SEC. 7. Equal Opportuni@- It shall be the duty of every person, natural or juridical, 6 public or private, to ensure that there is equal opportunity for all persons in relating to actual or 1 prospective employees, students, tenants, customers or clients, and that no discriminatory acts, as 8 defined herein is committed by them or their agents in the areas of employment, housing, 9 education, and delivery of basic goods and services. 10 For this purpose, every agency, corporation, company, and educational institution, as well 11 as any other person providing employment, housing, education, and delivery of basic goods and 12 services, shall issue an equal opportunity policy, including the creation of an Equal Opportunity 13 Committee, as provided in the next section. Failure to do so shall be deemed refusal to address 14 discrimination, and shall be penalized as an act of discrimination. 15 16 SEC. 8. Equal Opp~&nl@ CommZltees.-In order to insure the compliance of this Act, 17 agencies, corporations, companies and educational institutions, whether private or public, shall 18 create an Equal Opportunity Committee which shall have administrative jurisdiction over cases 19 involving discrimination under this Act. 20 The committee shall be tasked, among others, to conduct the investigation of alleged 21 cases constituting discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin and/or religious affiliation or 22 beliefs. 23 Administrative sanctions shall not be a bar to any prosecution in the proper courts of any 24 act of discrimination committed on the basis of ethnic origin and/or religious affiliation or 25 beliefs, or to any civil claims for damages caused by said act. 26 5