Bill > SB477

This bill amends the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to clarify and expand enforcement procedures for civil rights complaints. The bill defines a "group or class complaint" as any complaint alleging a pattern or practice, and modifies the timeline for filing and resolving complaints. It extends the time for complainants to file civil actions by tolling (pausing) the statute of limitations in several scenarios, including when a complainant appeals the closure of their complaint or when there is a written agreement between the complainant and the department. The bill also removes specific restrictions on which counties can host civil actions related to discrimination complaints. Additionally, the bill requires the department to issue a right-to-sue notice only after a director's or group complaint has been fully resolved and all related proceedings have terminated. These changes aim to provide more flexibility and protection for individuals seeking to address workplace and housing discrimination, while streamlining the complaint and investigation process for the Civil Rights Department.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB477