HB 3612

Abstract

Prohibits, in specified areas of law, discrimination or harassment against persons based on caste. Authorizes enforcement of prohibition through civil action for actual and punitive damages. Authorizes attorney fees in civil proceedings for unlawful discrimination. Includes caste as protected class in bias crimes and incidents. Prohibits profiling by law enforcement agency or officer based on caste. Adds caste to real or perceived factors of motivation or basis for conduct addressed by standards for law enforcement officers. Requires law enforcement agencies to report statistics concerning crimes motivated by prejudice based on perceived caste. Adds caste to classes protected by community engagement plans for planning water projects. Adds caste to classes promoted by affirmative action by state boards, commissions and advisory boards and all branches of state government. Adds caste to types of persecution or well-founded fears of persecution that refugee children are defined to have experienced. Prohibits public charter schools from limiting student enrollment based on caste. Includes caste within cultural competence guidelines developed by System of Care Advisory Council. Prohibits person that sells guaranteed asset protection waiver in sale of motor vehicle from varying terms based on caste. Requires state agencies to eliminate discrimination based on caste. Requires state agencies to adopt any rules related to implementation of provisions of Act no later than January 1, 2024. Declares emergency, effective on passage.