Bill Text: CA AB437 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 437

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: State government: equity.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-04-23 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading. [AB437 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB437-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly May 18, 2023

Amended IN Assembly April 13, 2023

Amended IN Assembly March 20, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 437

Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson

February 06, 2023

An act to add Section 12816.6 to the Government Code, relating to state government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 437, as amended, Jackson. State government: equity.

Existing law creates, within the Government Operations Agency, a Chief Equity Officer, who is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Governor. Existing law requires the Chief Equity Officer to improve equity and inclusion throughout state government operations and authorizes the Chief Equity Officer to engage with state entities for these purposes.

This bill would require state agencies ~~to ensure that their policies, allocation of resources, and systemic practices are equitable and would define various terms for this purpose.~~ and departments, in carrying out their duties, to consider the use of more inclusive practices to advance equity, as specified.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to implement the provisions of Section 1 of Executive Order No. N-16-22 to require state agencies and departments to more effectively advance equity in the actions undertaken by the state to serve all Californians.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

Section 12816.6 is added to the Government Code, immediately following Section 12816.5, to read:

12816.6.

(a) To the extent allowed by law, every state agency and department shall, in carrying out its duties under law, ~~ensure that its policies, allocation of resources, and practices are equitable.~~ consider the use of more inclusive practices to advance equity in the agency’s or department’s mission, vision, goals, data tools, policies, programs, operations, community engagement, tribal consultation policies and practices, and other actions as necessary to better serve all Californians.

(b) For purposes of this section, ~~the following definitions apply:~~ “equity” means addressing the disparities in opportunities and outcomes of underserved populations.

(1)“Equitable” means that legislation, policies, allocation of resources, and systemic practices empower and meet the unique needs of diverse and underserved populations to ensure that communities facing the greatest inequities are not left behind in the allocation of resources in a fair and just way.
~~(2)“Inequities” are the factors and conditions that shape disparities that are systemic and avoidable and, therefore, considered unjust or unfair.~~
(3)“Disparities” means the differences in the quality and longevity of life among distinct segments of the population, including differences that occur by gender, age, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, education or income, disability or functional impairment, or geographic location, or the combination of any of these factors.