what is sb 403 california

Senate Bill 403 (SB 403) is a bill that would ban discrimination based on an individuals caste under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and the California Education Code. The bill defines "caste" as a social hierarchy system that has historically determined what jobs or education opportunities individuals can have. SB 403 expands the FEHAs definition of "ancestry" to specifically include ones "caste". The California Senate approved an amended version of SB 403 on September 5, 2023, and sent it to Governor Newsom for signature. The governor has until October 14, 2023, to sign SB 403 into law. If enacted, it will go into effect on January 1, 2024. If signed into law, California would become the first state to enact legislation banning caste-based discrimination.