(a) A house of the Legislature shall not discharge, expel, or otherwise discriminate against a legislative advocate or a legislative employee because that person has opposed any practices forbidden under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 12900) of Division 3), opposed any practice actionable under Section 51 or 51.9 of the Civil Code, or filed a complaint, testified, or assisted in any proceeding relating to a complaint of discriminatory harassment made pursuant to those laws. A vote of the house or the deliberation of legislative matters within its jurisdiction shall not be considered an act to discharge, expel, or otherwise discriminate against a legislative advocate or a legislative employee for purposes of this subdivision.

(b) A violation of this section is subject to a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Terms Used In California Government Code 9149.40

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation, or company. See California Government Code 17
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Government Code 18
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which the term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Government Code 10

(c) This article does not limit either of the following:

(1) The application of any other rights or remedies under federal or state law.

(2) The authority conferred upon the Attorney General, any state or federal law enforcement agency, or any other commission, department, or agency authorized to investigate the Legislature.

(d) The civil fine imposed under this article is in addition to those provided by any other federal or state law, including § 1102.5 of the Labor Code and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 12900) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 952, Sec. 2. (SB 419) Effective September 30, 2018.)