SB1485 Summary

• Establishes the Racial Impact Note Act requiring bills with potential disparate impact on racial and ethnic minorities to include explanatory notes before second reading, prepared by appropriate state agencies within 5 calendar days.

• Adds racial discrimination and harassment prohibition to State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, requiring all state employees and officials to complete annual racial bias training beginning in 2020 and maintain policies addressing racial discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

• Amends Lobbyist Registration Act to require registered lobbyists to complete annual racial bias, discrimination, and harassment training starting January 1, 2020, and maintain written racial discrimination and harassment policies.

• Creates a racial discrimination and harassment hotline through the Department of Human Rights to provide reporting options, resources, and confidential complaint filing assistance, with reports forwarded to appropriate inspector generals when involving state officials.

• Establishes penalties for violations of racial discrimination and harassment provisions in the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act and Lobbyist Registration Act, subject to Executive Ethics Commission jurisdiction and up to $5,000 administrative fines.