HB 969 amends Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 8 of the OCGA relating to fair housing. The bill requires the Attorney General to pursue civil action for housing discrimination if the aggrieved party elects to do so or if recommended by the Administrator of the Commission on Equal Opportunity. If the parties do not elect to do so, the Administrator will refer the complaint to an administrative law judge Office of State Administrative Hearings. In current law, the complaint is referred to the Board of Directors of the Commission on Equal Opportunity. The bill then states that the Administrator may review and reject or modify any finding, conclusion, or order issued by the administrative law judge. If the actions taken by the Administrator are not appealed in thirty days, the order becomes final. The bill further states that all appeals of this final order must be made to the Superior Court of Fulton County. Currently the appeal is made in the superior court in which unlawful practice occurred or in the superior court of the residence of the respondent. The bill also states that respondents may only be awarded court costs and attorney’s fees if they prevail on all alleged violations and prove that the action was frivolous. The bill also removed the requirement that discovery and enforcement in actions for housing discrimination, be conducted in the same manner as discovery under the Civil Practices Act.