Discrimination: state employees: travel.

Existing law provides that a person in this state cannot be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under, a state program or activity, as specified, on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, or sexual orientation. Existing law provides for officers and employees of the state, when away from their headquarters for state business, to receive travel expenses. Existing law prohibits a state agency and the Legislature from requiring any of its employees, officers, or members to travel to, or approving a request for state-funded or state-sponsored travel to, any state that has enacted a law that voids or repeals, or has the effect of voiding or repealing, existing state or local protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression or has enacted a law that authorizes or requires discrimination against same-sex couples or their families or on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, as specified. Existing law excepts from these provisions travel that is required for specified purposes, including, among other things, to participate in meetings or training required to maintain grant funding and to complete job-related training necessary to maintain licensure or similar standards. This bill also would exempt travel that is required to attend or to participate in an academic conference or competition, or an athletic event, and travel that is required to further recruitment of a prospective student athlete, from these provisions.