BILL NUMBER: AB 781	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 13, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jeffries

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

    An act relating to bilingual hiring.   An
act to add Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 3650) to Division 4 of
Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to public employment. 


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 781, as amended, Jeffries.  Employment: bilingual
hiring requirements.   Public employment: language.

   Existing law deems the opportunity to seek and obtain employment
without discrimination, as specified, to be a civil right. 
Existing law prohibits an employer from refusing to hire a person, or
taking certain other actions, based on specified characteristics,
unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. 
   This bill would  express the intent of the Legislature to
enact legislation supporting the strategies, programs, and policies
that promote intercultural understanding and dialogue, and to effect
statutory changes relating to bilingual hiring requirements in local
and state government, as specified   prohibit a city,
county, or state   governmental entity from discriminating
against an employee or an applicant for employment on the basis of
the ability of the employee or applicant to speak a language other
than English, unless an ability to speak a language other than
English constitutes a bona fide occupational qualification  .
   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.    Chapter 13 (commencing with Section
3650) is added to Division 4 of Title 1 of the   Government
Code   , to read:  
      CHAPTER 13.  DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT


   3650.  A city, county, or state governmental entity shall not
discriminate against an employee or an applicant for employment on
the basis of the ability of the employee or applicant to speak a
language other than English, unless an ability to speak a language
other than English constitutes a bona fide occupational
qualification.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation supporting strategies, programs, and policies
that promote intercultural understanding and dialogue, and to effect
statutory changes relating to bilingual hiring requirements in local
and state government and the implications for employment
discrimination against qualified job applicants.