California Assembly Bill AB1887 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1887AMENDED 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.