AB 1887, as introduced, Low. State Government: discrimination: travel.
Existing law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, ethnic group identification, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, color, genetic information, or disability under any state program or activity. Existing law provides for officers and employees of the state, when away from their headquarters for state business, to receive travel expenses.
This bill would prohibit state-funded or state-sponsored travel to any state with a law in effect that sanctions or requires discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, subject to specified exceptions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 11139.8 is added to the Government
2Code, to read:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
3(1) California is a leader in protecting civil rights and preventing
4discrimination.
5(2) California’s robust nondiscrimination laws include
6protections on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and
7gender expression, among other characteristics.
8(3) Religious freedom is a cornerstone of law and public policy
9in the United States, and the Legislature strongly supports and
10affirms this important freedom.
11(4) The exercise of religious freedom should not be a
12justification for
discrimination.
13(5) California must take action to avoid supporting or financing
14discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
15people.
16(6) It is the policy of the State of California to promote fairness
17and equality and to combat discrimination.
18(b) All agencies, departments, boards, authorities, commissions,
19the University of California, the Board of Regents, of the
20University of California and the California State University shall
21review all requests for state-funded or state-sponsored travel to
22any state with a law in effect that sanctions or requires
23discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity,
24or gender expression.
25(c) Any state-funded or state-sponsored travel to locations
26described in subdivision (b) is
prohibited, unless that travel is
27necessary for the enforcement of California law, to meet prior
28contractual obligations, or for the protection of public health,
29welfare, or safety.
30(d) The prohibition on state-funded travel described in this
31section shall continue while any law specified in subdivision (b)
32remains in effect.
O
99