Civil Rights Act of 2007 Approved by Assembly Judiciary Committee

Bill Remedies Dozens of Nondiscrimination Deficiencies in State Law Covering Emergency Services, Awarding of Public Contracts, Food Stamp Eligibility, Use of Public Beaches

SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Judiciary Committee today approved the Civil Rights Act of 2007, a bill that strengthens and clarifies 51 nondiscrimination provisions in state law by referencing the strongest standards of nondiscrimination protection, which include: race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex (including gender identity) and sexual orientation.

Authored by Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), and sponsored by Equality California and the California State Conference of the NAACP, AB 14 increases or clarifies protections for various so-called “protected classes” in a variety of situations such as jury service, the issuance of credit cards, voter registration programs, delivery of emergency services, awarding of public contracts, food stamp eligibility, and the use of public beaches.

“In California we still have significant gaps in civil rights protections, leaving Californians vulnerable to discrimination in a wide variety of situations,” said Assemblymember Laird.  “This bill indexes dozens of codes to the strongest level of protection available in state law.”

AB 14 ensures that 51 nondiscrimination provisions are consistent with the Unruh Civil Rights Act and a Government Code provision that applies to state-funded programs and activities. Because these 51 provisions currently do not name all of these protected classes, there is an existing deficiency in protection for Californians, in addition to confusion for those charged with implementing and complying with these laws.

AB 14 is the fourth bill in a series of nondiscrimination bills authored by Assemblymember Laird and would bring to 108 the number of provisions updated through bills authored by him.  In 2004, Mr. Laird authored AB 2900, which amended 35 labor and employment related nondiscrimination provisions.  In 2006, he authored AB 1400, which amended the Unruh Civil Rights Act and four related provisions to clarify that people are protected from discrimination regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.  And in 2006, Mr. Laird authored AB 2800, which amended 17 housing related nondiscrimination provisions. All three bills were signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger.

AB 14 is expected to be heard next in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.