SB 403: Discrimination on the basis of ancestry.

Existing law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, provides that all persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.

This bill would define ancestry for purposes of the act to include, among other things, caste, as defined.

Existing law states the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or specified other characteristics, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state, and states that the purpose of related existing law is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies therefor.

This bill would additionally include ancestry as a protected characteristic in that policy statement and would define ancestry and caste for purposes of those provisions.

Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), establishes the Civil Rights Department to enforce civil rights laws with respect to housing and employment, as prescribed. The FEHA declares the public policy of the state that it is necessary to protect and safeguard the right of all persons to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination, and recognizes and declares to be a civil right the opportunity to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination, based on specified characteristics, including ancestry. The FEHA makes certain discriminatory employment practices based on those characteristics unlawful.

This bill would define ancestry for purposes of the FEHA to include, among other things, caste, and would also define caste for purposes of those provisions.

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 12926 of the Government Code proposed by AB 524 to be operative only if this bill and AB 524 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.