Bill Text: CA SB820 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Settlement agreements: confidentiality.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 953, Statutes of 2018. [SB820 Detail]

Download: California-2017-SB820-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  June 20, 2018

Amended  IN  Senate  May 03, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 820

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Introduced by Senator Leyva
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Gonzalez Fletcher)
(Coauthors: Senators Beall and Hernandez)

January 03, 2018

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An act to add Section 1001 to the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to civil procedure.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 820, as amended, Leyva. Settlement agreements: confidentiality.

Existing law prohibits a provision in a settlement agreement that prevents the disclosure of factual information related to the action in a civil action with a factual foundation establishing a cause of action for civil damages for certain enumerated sexual offenses. Existing law prohibits a court from entering an order in any of these types of civil actions that restricts disclosure of this information, as specified, and it makes a provision in a settlement agreement that prevents the disclosure of factual information related to the action, entered into on or after January 1, 2017, void as a matter of law and against public policy.

This bill would similarly provide that, prohibit a provision in a settlement agreement that prevents the disclosure of factual information relating to the action is prohibited, if the pleadings state a cause of action relating to specified claims of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or harassment or discrimination based on sex. certain claims of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or harassment or discrimination based on sex, that are filed in a civil or administrative action. The bill would make a provision in a settlement agreement that prevents the disclosure of factual information related to the action, claim, as described in the bill, entered into on or after January 1, 2019, void as a matter of law and against public policy. The bill would also provide 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. The bill would create an exception, not applicable if a party is a government agency or public official, if the provision preventing disclosure for a provision that shields the identity of the claimant and all facts that could lead to the discovery of his or her identity, if the provision is included within the settlement agreement at the request of the claimant.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 1001 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, immediately preceding Section 1002, to read:

1001.

 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a provision within a settlement agreement that prevents the disclosure of factual information related to the action a claim filed in a civil action or a complaint filed in an administrative action, regarding any of the following, is prohibited in any civil action in which the pleadings state a cause of action for civil damages for any of the following: 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, sex or an act of retaliation against a person for reporting harassment or discrimination based on sex, as described in subdivisions (j) and (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).

(b)

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), (a) and (b), a provision that prevents the disclosure of factual information related to the action shields the identity of the claimant and all facts that could lead to the discovery of his or her 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.

(c)

(d) Except as authorized by subdivision (b), (c), a provision within a settlement agreement that prevents the disclosure of factual information related to the action 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.

(d)

(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.

(e)

(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.