BILL NUMBER: AB 1887	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 10, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Low
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Ting)

                        FEBRUARY 11, 2016

   An act to add Section 11139.8 to the Government Code, relating to
discrimination.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1887, as amended, Low. State  Government: 
 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
  a state agency from requiring any of its employees,
officers, or members to  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,  or
approving a request for 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 1.  Section 11139.8 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   11139.8.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (1) California is a leader in protecting civil rights and
preventing discrimination.
   (2) California's robust nondiscrimination laws include protections
on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender
expression, among other characteristics.
   (3) Religious freedom is a cornerstone of law and public policy in
the United States, and the Legislature strongly supports and affirms
this important freedom.
   (4) The exercise of religious freedom should not be a
justification for discrimination.
   (5) California must take action to avoid supporting or financing
discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
people.
   (6) It is the policy of the State of California to promote
fairness and equality and to combat discrimination.
   (b)  All agencies, departments, boards, authorities,
commissions,   An agency, department, board, authority,
or commission, including an agency, department, board, authority, or
commission of  the University of California, the Board of
 Regents,   Regents  of the University of
 California and   California, or  the
California State University shall  review all requests for
state-funded or state-sponsored travel to any   not do
either of the following: 
    (1)     Require any of its employees,
officers, or members to travel to a  state with a law in effect
that sanctions or requires discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 
   (2) Approve a request for state-funded or state-sponsored travel
to a state with a law in effect that sanctions or requires
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity,
or gender expression. 
   (c)  Any state-funded or state-sponsored travel to
locations described in subdivision (b) is prohibited, unless that
travel   Subdivision (b) shall not apply to travel that
 is necessary for the enforcement of California law, to meet
prior contractual obligations, or for the protection of public
health, welfare, or safety.
   (d) The prohibition on state-funded travel described in this
section shall continue while any law specified in subdivision (b)
remains in effect.