99 – AB 537 – Discrimination

AB 537 amended the California Education Code’s general anti-discrimination and harassment provisions (Sections 200, 220, 66251, and 66270) to prohibit discrimination and harassment in the public schools and community colleges’ programs and activities “regardless of any basis that is contained in the prohibition of hate crimes set forth in Penal Code Section 422.6(a).” By referencing the current hate crime statute, actual or perceived lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students and staff are protected from discrimination and harassment in public schools and colleges.