BILL NUMBER: AB 1017 VETOED DATE: 10/11/2015 To the Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1017 without my signature. This bill would prohibit an employer from seeking salary information from an applicant for employment. I agree with the sponsors that we must endeavor to ensure that all workers are paid fairly and do not receive a lower wage because of their gender or any other immutable characteristic that has no bearing on how they will perform in their job. This year, I signed SB 358 that gives California the strongest equal pay law in the nation. This bill, however, broadly prohibits employers from obtaining relevant information with little evidence that this would assure more equitable wages. Let's give SB 358 a chance to work before making further changes. Sincerely, Edmund G. Brown Jr.