AB 1079: Discrimination: Public engagement.

Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health and prescribes its duties and organization. Existing law defines a hate crime as a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of actual or perceived characteristics of the victim, including, disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation.

This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature and commencing on or before the later of either July 1, 2025, or one year after the date of the appropriation, would require the department to establish the Hate Crimes Intervention Program within the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch to implement evidence-based community interventions in conjunction with community leaders and organizations in communities that have been most impacted by hate crimes confirmed by the Department of Justice.

Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, establishes the Civil Rights Department within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and sets forth its powers and duties relating to enforcement of civil rights laws and assistance to communities in resolving disputes, disagreements, or difficulties relating to discriminatory practices.

This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature and commencing on or before the later of either July 1, 2025, or one year after the date of the appropriation, would require the department to create and distribute statewide and regional radio, social media, and television campaigns for the purposes of discouraging discrimination. The bill would require the department to convene a working group to develop a plan to implement the campaigns above. The bill would exempt the working group from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act.