BILL NUMBER: SB 504	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hollingsworth

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2007

   An act to amend Section 54.3 of the Civil Code, relating to
disabled persons.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 504, as introduced, Hollingsworth. Disabled persons.
   Under existing law, individuals with certain disabilities are
entitled to equal access rights to various facilities. Any person who
denies or interferes with admittance to, or enjoyment of, public
facilities, or otherwise interferes with the rights of an individual
with a disability, is liable for each offense, as specified.
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to a
related provision.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 54.3 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
   54.3.  (a) Any person or persons, firm or corporation who denies
or interferes with admittance to  ,  or enjoyment of  ,
 the public facilities as specified in Sections 54 and 54.1 
,  or otherwise interferes with the rights of an individual
with a disability under Sections 54, 54.1  ,  and 54.2 
,  is liable for each offense for the actual damages and any
amount as may be determined by a jury, or the court sitting without a
jury, up to a maximum of three times the amount of actual damages
but in no case less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), and attorney'
s fees as may be determined by the court in addition thereto,
suffered by any person denied any of the rights provided in Sections
54, 54.1, and 54.2. "Interfere," for purposes of this section,
includes, but is not limited to, preventing or causing the prevention
of a guide dog, signal dog, or service dog from carrying out its
functions in assisting a disabled person.
   (b) Any person who claims to be aggrieved by an alleged unlawful
practice in violation of Section 54, 54.1, or 54.2 may also file a
verified complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing
pursuant to Section 12948 of the Government Code. The remedies in
this section are nonexclusive and are in addition to any other remedy
provided by law, including, but not limited to, any action for
injunctive or other equitable relief available to the aggrieved party
or brought in the name of the people of this state or of the United
States.
   (c) A person may not be held liable for damages pursuant to both
this section and Section 52 for the same act or failure to act.