Bill > SB303

This bill adds Section 1163 to the California Evidence Code and focuses on protecting information gathered during bias mitigation training for public employees. Specifically, in civil actions or administrative proceedings alleging discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the bill prevents plaintiffs from using a public employee's self-assessed, tested, or acknowledged personal bias (obtained during mandatory bias training) as evidence of discriminatory conduct. The bill defines "bias mitigation training" as educational efforts by public employers to help employees understand and recognize conscious and unconscious biases, including strategies like bias assessments, workshops, and tracking bias elimination. While the evidence of self-reported bias cannot be used in civil proceedings, the bill still allows introduction of evidence about actual incidents of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation that might occur during such training. Additionally, the bill establishes that information related to bias mitigation efforts, including assessment results and specific bias reduction strategies, is considered confidential and inadmissible in civil proceedings, though this confidentiality does not apply in criminal proceedings. The goal appears to be creating a safe environment for employees to honestly examine and work on potential personal biases without fear that such self-reflection could be used against them in future legal actions.

Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB303