Click here for the 2007 Legislative Guide
Click here for the 2008 Scorecard (.pdf)

Equality California-Sponsored Legislation

AB 14 - Civil Rights Act of 2007

Assembly Bill 14, the Civil Rights Act of 20067, authored by Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), would amend existing nondiscrimination provisions to be consistent with the nondiscrimination protections in the Unruh Civil Rights Act and Government Code Section 11135, which prohibits discrimination in state funded programs and activities. AB 14 is the forth in a series of successful nondiscrimination bills authored by Assemblymember Laird and sponsored by EQCA to strengthen major areas of California law and clarify that people are protected from discrimination regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

STATUS: Introduced by Assemblymember Laird on December 4, 2006. Passed Assembly on May 21. Passed Senate on September 11 with a 23-12 vote. Signed by Governor Schwarzenegger; will become law on January 1, 2008.

Lead Author: Assemblymember John Laird

Sponsor: Equality California

Co-Authors: Senators Kehoe and Kuehl; Assemblymembers Hancock, Leno, Lieber and Saldana

BACKGROUND ON AB 14

• AB 14 Fact Sheet (.pdf)
• Sample Letter of Support (.doc)
• Official Legislative Documents

PRESS RELEASES

• Governor Signs Six LGBT Bills, Secures Protections for LGBT Youth
  10-12-2007
• Senate Approves Key Bill in Historic Multi-Year Overhaul of State's Anti-Bias Policies
  9-11-2007
• Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Stronger Nondiscrimination Standards
  6-26-2007
• Assembly Votes to Adopt Stronger Nondiscrimination Standards
  5-21-2007
• Bill Giving Domestic Partners Equal Opportunity to Change Names Passes First Committee
  3-27-2007
• Assemblymember Laird Introduces Civil Rights Act of 2007
  12-5-2006