BILL NUMBER: AB 2159	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 1, 2016
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  APRIL 7, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 31, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Gonzalez and Bonta
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Medina)

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2016

   An act to add Section 351.2 to the Evidence Code, relating to
evidence.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2159, Gonzalez. Evidence: immigration status.
   Existing law provides that all relevant evidence is admissible in
an action before the court, including evidence relevant to the
credibility of a witness or hearsay declarant, subject to specified
exceptions.
   This bill would provide that, in civil actions for personal injury
or wrongful death, evidence of a person's immigration status is not
admissible and discovery of a person's immigration status is not
permitted. The bill would also provide that these restrictions do not
affect the standards of relevance, admissibility, or discovery under
other specified provisions of law.



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

  SECTION 1.  Section 351.2 is added to the Evidence Code, to read:
   351.2.  (a) In a civil action for personal injury or wrongful
death, evidence of a person's immigration status shall not be
admitted into evidence, nor shall discovery into a person's
immigration status be permitted.
   (b) This section does not affect the standards of relevance,
admissibility, or discovery prescribed by Section 3339 of the Civil
Code, Section 7285 of the Government Code, Section 24000 of the
Health and Safety Code, and Section 1171.5 of the Labor Code.