The Assembly Education Committee advanced SB 998 with amendments, moving the bill to the Judiciary Committee and making it a live legislative proposal rather than just a hearing item.
According to the committee summary and hearing materials, the bill by Sen. Gonzalez would clarify the duties of discrimination-prevention coordinators created under SB 48 and add deputy coordinators focused on disability discrimination, anti-Black discrimination, anti-AAPI discrimination, anti-Latino discrimination and anti-Native American discrimination. The measure is tied to California’s new Office of Civil Rights, which the materials say is housed in the Government Operations Agency.
The committee summary says supporters argued schools and the state need clearer accountability and more specialized support as discrimination complaints rise. The hearing materials also note that the Council on American Islamic Relations California testified as support-if-amended and asked for additional language addressing anti-Muslim discrimination.
The available materials do not include the exact amendment text or the committee vote tally. They do show that SB 998 left the Assembly Education Committee with amendments and headed to Judiciary for further review.
