Salinas Californian

Laird's anti-discrimination bill goes to Schwarzenegger

September 13, 2007

By JAKE HENSHAW
The Salinas Californian Capitol Bureau

SACRAMENTO - Many Californians who need state licenses for their jobs, from doctors to real estate agents, will get broader civil rights protections if the governor signs a bill passed early Wednesday by the Legislature.

Assembly Bill 14, the "Civil Rights Act of 2007," by Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, extends the broadest protection against discrimination in any state. It would establish law preventing groups such as credit card providers, government contractors, state park concessionaires, horse tracks and anyone claming tax deductions for private club memberships from discriminating against people based on gender, race, religion or other factors.

The measure is the fourth in a series of bills Laird has authored since arriving in the Legislature in 2002 to establish uniform nondiscrimination rules tied to the broadest protections on the books.

"No person should be denied access to state programs or be treated unfairly by a businesses operation in California," Laird said in a prepared statement.

AB 14 targets 51 protection rules, according to a legislative analysis. The bill deals with such diverse areas as juries, emergency services, public beaches and college financial aid. The governor has until Oct. 12 to act on the bill.