Legal News

Senate bill says lay off lawsuits offering discounts to furloughed workers

By Richard Binder

Since Governor Schwarzenegger ordered the 235,000 state workers under his authority to start three-day furloughs per month, Sacramento-area businesses have marketed to furloughed workers with targeted discounts on everything from lift tickets to oil changes. 

After learning that a San Diego attorney cited the Unruh Act to threaten discrimination lawsuits against businesses that cut prices for furloughed state workers, Senate Bill 367 was authored by Sens. Gloria Negrete McLeod and Tom Harman.  The bill would allow businesses to offer discounts to the furloughed workers with violating Unruh.

Senate Bill 367 also has the backing of the Consumer Attorneys of California.

The 50-year-old Unruh Act says businesses must give "the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services" to everyone, "regardless of sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation."

The Assembly Judicial Committee will consider the bill today.

Full story here.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on July 09, 2009 (boomark / email).