(a) If the federal government or the Commission on Human Rights refers a complaint alleging a violation of this chapter to a local commission or defers jurisdiction over the subject matter of the complaint to a local commission, the local commission may receive, investigate, conciliate, or rule on the complaint and may file a civil action to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(b) The local commission may request, and as necessary, compel by subpoena:
(1) the attendance of a witness for examination under oath; or
(2) the production for inspection or copying of a record, document, or other evidence relevant to the investigation of an alleged violation of this chapter.