Holden’s Social Justice Bills Pass Senate Committees

Four bills authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, have passed Senate policy committees. 

The package of social justice bills that passed include Assembly Bill 105, the Upward Mobility Act; AB 229, which requires use of force training for private security; AB 349, which provides transportation contracts for disadvantaged communities; and AB 948, which calls for real estate appraisal reform.

AB 105 would address barriers to upward mobility and inclusion of people of color working in California’s civil services system. Specifically, the legislation would require diversity on all state boards and commissions that have volunteers, and reform processes that hinder upward mobility for people of color in the civil service system, giving attention to compliance, the appeals process, and annual parity goals for upward mobility. 

“Upward mobility is integral to achieving racial justice, and we should be setting the example,” said Holden in a prepared statement. “The existing systems in place at our own state agencies fail to create inclusive workplace environments, and hinder qualified individuals to move on up within their department simply based on the color of their skin.”

AB 229 would require the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) to develop curriculum and training courses on the appropriate use of force for private security service employees in consultation with the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

AB 349 would require the Department of General Services (DGS) and other state agencies and departments to expand outreach to small businesses, particularly those owned by individuals that identify as LGBTQ, racial minorities, or women, passed the Senate Governmental Organization Committee.

“This bill is about ensuring equity and a just COVID-19 recovery,” Holden said. “We know communities of color continue to be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 with higher rates of unemployment, reduced access to healthcare, and ultimately higher death rates. This bill will bring economic opportunities to these communities who are also hit hardest by taxes on gas and transportation.”

AB 948 would require the Bureau of California Real Estate Appraisals to gather data on demographic information of buyers and sellers of real estate property and compile data of homeowners from protected classes who file complaints based on low appraisals. The legislation also requires appraisers to take anti-bias training when renewing their license.

“Black homeowners in predominantly white neighborhoods are getting their homes appraised for far less than their neighbors,” said Holden. “It’s just another example of how bias, whether explicit or implicit, creates inequity for Black Americans. This is redlining 2.0.”