AB 1680 Summary

• Prohibits requiring persons to waive civil rights protections under the Ralph Civil Rights Act and Bane Civil Rights Act as a condition of entering contracts for goods or services, effective January 1, 2011

• Requires any waiver of civil rights protections to be knowing and voluntary, in writing, and expressly not a condition of the contract; waivers made as a condition are deemed involuntary, unconscionable, and unenforceable

• Shifts burden of proof to anyone seeking to enforce a waiver to demonstrate it was knowing, voluntary, and not conditioned on the contract or provision of services

• Protects the right to file complaints with the Attorney General, law enforcement, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, courts, or other governmental entities and prohibits retaliation for refusing to waive such rights

• Adds protection for homeless persons from violence and intimidation based on their homeless status and clarifies that waivers are not permitted after a legal claim has already arisen