Bills Would Ban CA Employers From Asking Certain Questions

Employers in California would lose the ability to ask job applicants their salary history and job status under separate bills passed by the California Senate Tuesday.

The measure on salary history, AB 1017 by Assemblywoman Nora Campos, D-San Jose, aims to increase pay equity. Supporters say attaching a woman’s historically lower salary to a job application can perpetuate lower pay.

It narrowly passed the Upper House, with opponents such as Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Riverside County, calling it unnecessary.

“This bill is just another one of many attempts to inappropriately and unnecessarily interfere with the relationship between employers and job applicants," Stone said on the Senate floor.

Senators easily passed the measure that would ban employers from asking whether a job seeker is employed.

Both bills head back to the Assembly for final consideration.

Also in the Legislature, the Assembly approved a bill that would limit the carrying of concealed firearms on school and college campuses. That bill, SB 707, is authored by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis.

Current law allows individuals with a concealed weapons permit to bring their firearm on campus without permission from school officials.

Assemblyman Bill Dodd, D-Napa, told his colleagues that police chiefs and school districts could create their own policies under the measure.

“This bill puts control of firearms on campus grounds squarely where it belongs, with those public safety officials responsible for the safety of our students and staff on school or college campuses," Dodd said at the Capitol.

Several Republican Assembly members said the restriction could make schools less safe. They say it could prevent individuals deemed responsible from being able to respond to a school shooter with their own firearm.

That bill heads back to the Senate for a final vote.

The Legislature is making final votes on hundreds of bills before wrapping up its session next week.