SB 1237: Civil Rights Department.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes the Civil Rights Department to administer and enforce various laws relating to civil rights, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.

Existing law requires certain private employers to annually submit a pay data report to the department that includes, among other information, the number of employees by race, ethnicity, and sex, as specified, and, within each job category, for each combination of race, ethnicity, and sex, the median and mean hourly rate. Upon request from the Civil Rights Department, existing law requires a court to impose a civil penalty not to exceed $100 per employee upon any employer who fails to file the required report and not to exceed $200 per employee upon any employer for a subsequent failure to file the required report.

This bill would increase the penalty for subsequent failures to file the report described above to an amount not to exceed $1,000 per employee.

Existing law authorizes the department to develop, publish on an annual basis, and publicize aggregate reports based on the data obtained pursuant to their authority under this section, provided that the aggregate reports are reasonably calculated to prevent the association of any data with any individual business or person.

This bill would require the department to annually publish the number of total pay data reports submitted, as provided and specified.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 1019, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 1019, Statutes of 2026.
3. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
4. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
5. August 31, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.
6. August 31, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.
7. August 26, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 10. Page 5831.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
8. August 26, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 10.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
9. August 25, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
10. August 25, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
11. August 25, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 59. Noes 19. Page 6475.) Ordered to the Senate.
12. August 25, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 59. Noes 19. Page 6475.) Ordered to the Senate.