AB 1878: Data collection: race and ethnicity.

Existing law requires state agencies, boards, or commissions that directly or by contract collect demographic data on the ethnic origin, ethnicity, or race of Californians to use specified collection categories for Middle Eastern, North African, Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Black, and African American groups.

Existing law establishes within the Government Operations Agency the Office of Data and Innovation, whose mission is to deliver better government services to the people of California through technology and service innovation, data, and design. Existing law requires the Governor to appoint a Chief Data Officer in the Office of Data and Innovation.

This bill, subject to a specified exception, would require any state agency, board, or commission that directly or by contract collects demographic data on the ethnic origin, ethnicity, or race of Californians to collect and publish data on detailed race and ethnicity categories, as provided. The bill would require compliance with these provisions by January 1, 2029. The bill would prohibit these provisions from being construed to affect certain provisions regarding the collection of demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of California residents. The bill would also prohibit its provisions from being construed to prevent a state agency from tabulating and reporting demographic data in accordance with state or federal requirements and standards.

This bill would require the Office of Data and Innovation to, among other things, standardize the collection of demographic data across state agencies, as provided. The bill would require the Chief Data Officer and the Office of Data and Innovation to oversee implementation of these provisions and provide technical assistance.

This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, each state agency, board, or commission required to comply with the bills provisions to submit a report to the Legislature and the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization on compliance with these provisions, as provided. The bill would require data collected pursuant to this section to be made available to the public in accordance with state and federal law, except for personal identifying information, as specified. The bill would prohibit an agency from disclosing personal identifying information to any federal agency unless the disclosure is expressly required by federal law. The bill would require an agency to adhere to best practices in government data and to apply data equity practices, as provided.

Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.

This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.