When the Legislature adjourned last month, we sent a number of measures to Governor Jerry Brown to expand equality, justice, and inclusion to California’s LGBT community.
As I write, the following bills are pending with the Governor. He has until the end of the month to sign or veto them. You can urge him to act by contacting him through his website at www.gov.ca.gov
AB 1732, which I authored, requires single-occupancy restrooms in government buildings, businesses, and places of public accommodation to be universally accessible to all genders. This bill would create the most inclusive restroom laws in the country and expand restroom safety, fairness, and convenience for all Californians.
AB 1887, by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell), prohibits state-funded travel by state workers to a state that has enacted laws that discriminate against people on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. This bill was inspired by the actions of states like North Carolina and Mississippi, which have passed discriminatory legislation.
AB 2246, by Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), requires schools to adopt comprehensive suicide prevention programs for grades 7–12.
AB 2640, by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), requires medical care providers or those administering HIV tests to inform patients who test negative for HIV and are at high-risk of HIV about the effectiveness and safety of all FDA-approved methods that reduce the risk of contracting HIV.
SB 524, by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), would attempt to regulate facilities that may be illegally offering conversion therapy by establishing licensing and regulation for private institutions that offer alternative therapy for youth. In 2012, California made conversion therapy illegal and Illinois, Oregon, New Jersey, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., have since followed.
SB 1146, by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), requires religious universities and colleges that receive government funding to publicly disclose if they claim religious exemptions to laws against discrimination.
I am pleased to report that Governor Brown has signed the following bills:
AB 73, by Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R-Escondido) and Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), states property owners are not required to disclose the HIV status of a previous occupant or if the owner had AIDS or died of AIDS when selling, leasing, or renting a home.
AB 2349, by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco), ensures that parents who conceive through surrogacy in California won’t have their rights violated in other states.
SB 1005, by Senator Hannah Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), would make changes to several code sections in order to reflect California’s status as a state that respects marriage equality.
SB 1408, by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), allows organ and tissue donation between HIV-positive donors and HIV-positive recipients, potentially saving hundreds of lives each year.
California acts as a laboratory for progressive policy ideas—from our action on climate change, to our work in making the workplace fairer. We are unafraid of bold ideas and advocating for social justice. With a stroke of his pen, Governor Brown can continue our state’s leadership in equality by signing all of these bills.
Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the Westside of San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma and Daly City.
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