Employment discrimination.

Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, creates the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and authorizes the department to receive, investigate, and prosecute complaints alleging specified unlawful practices. Under existing law, any person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged unlawful practice is authorized to file with the department a verified complaint, in writing, that states the name and address of the person, employer, labor organization, or employment agency alleged to have committed the unlawful practice complained of, that sets forth the particulars thereof, and contains other information as required by the department. Existing law requires any agreement entered into by any dispute resolution to be in writing. This bill would declare that a waiver or release of claims under this part is contrary to public policy and unenforceable, unless the waiver or release of claims is knowing and voluntary.