Bill Text: CA SB1135 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Settlement agreements: confidentiality.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-05 - Referred to Com. on RLS. [SB1135 Detail]
Download: California-2019-SB1135-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1135
| Introduced by Senator Hertzberg |
February 19, 2020 |
An act to amend Section 1001 of the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to civil procedure.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1135, as introduced, Hertzberg.
Settlement agreements: confidentiality.
Existing law prohibits a provision in a settlement agreement that prevents the disclosure of factual information relating to certain claims of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or harassment or discrimination based on sex, that are filed in a civil or administrative action. Existing law provides that a court may consider the pleadings and other papers in the record, or any other findings of the court, in determining the factual foundation of the causes of action specified in these provisions.
This bill would delete the specific authorization that a court may consider other findings of the court.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 1001 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:1001.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a provision within a settlement agreement that prevents the disclosure of factual information related to a claim filed in a civil action or a complaint filed in an administrative action, regarding any of the following, is prohibited:(1) An act of sexual assault that is not governed by subdivision (a) of Section 1002.
(2) An act of sexual harassment, as defined in Section 51.9 of the Civil Code.
(3) An act of workplace harassment or discrimination based on sex, or failure to prevent an act of workplace harassment or discrimination based on sex or an act of retaliation against a person for reporting
harassment or discrimination based on sex, as described in subdivisions (h), (i), (j), and (k) of Section 12940 of the Government Code.
(4) An act of harassment or discrimination based on sex, or an act of retaliation against a person for reporting harassment or discrimination based on sex, by the owner of a housing accommodation, as described in Section 12955 of the Government Code.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, in a civil matter described in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (a), a court shall not enter, by stipulation or otherwise, an order that restricts the disclosure of information in a manner that conflicts with subdivision (a).
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) and (b), a provision that shields the identity of the claimant and all facts that could lead to the discovery of his or her
the claimant’s identity, including pleadings filed in court, may be included within a settlement agreement at the request of the claimant. This subdivision does not apply if a government agency or public official is a party to the settlement agreement.
(d) Except as authorized by subdivision (c), a provision within a settlement agreement that prevents the disclosure of factual information related to the claim described in subdivision (a) that is entered into on or after January 1, 2019, is void as a matter of law and against public policy.
(e) This section does not prohibit the entry or enforcement of a provision in any agreement that precludes the disclosure of the amount paid in settlement of a claim.
(f) In determining the factual foundation of a cause of action for civil
damages under subdivision (a), a court may consider the pleadings and other papers in the record, or any other findings of the court.
record.
