AB 1126: Commission on the State of Hate.

Existing law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, specifies that all persons within the jurisdiction of the state are free and equal. Existing law entitles people regardless of their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind.

This bill would establish the Commission on the State of Hate in the state government. The bill would provide for the appointment of 9 members, appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Senate Committee on Rules, as provided. The bill would prescribe the goals of the commission, which would include, among other things, providing resources to various state agencies and the public to inform them on the state of hate and advising the Legislature, the Governor, and state agencies on policy recommendations to promote intersocial education designed to foster mutual respect and understanding among Californias diverse population. The bill would require the commission to host and coordinate a minimum of 4 in-person or virtual community forums, open to the public, on the state of hate per year. The bill would require the commission to seek to protect civil liberties in accordance with applicable law. The bill would authorize the commission to seek, apply for, or accept funding from sources other than the General Fund, as provided.

Starting July 1, 2023, the bill would require the commission to make publically available and issue to the Governor and the Legislature an Annual State of Hate Commission Report that describes its activities for the previous year and its recommendations for the following year. The bill would require this report, among other things, to provide a comprehensive accounting of hate crime activity statewide and report on relevant national hate crime trends and statistics. The bill would require the commission to report to the Legislature through the Joint Committee on Rules annually, as provided.

This bill would make the operation of these provisions contingent on funding appropriated by the Legislature for these purposes, and would require the commission to post notice of the appropriation on the homepage of its internet website and send notice of the funding to the Secretary of State and the Legislative Counsel.

This bill would be repealed by its own provisions on January 1, 2027.