Prohibited discrimination against service members.

Existing law prohibits various types of discrimination against a member of the military or naval forces of the state or of the United States because of his or her membership or service, including, among others, discrimination with respect to his or her employment. Existing law prohibits an employer or officer or agent of a corporation, company, or firm, or other person from, among other things, discharging a person from employment because of the performance of any ordered military duty or training or by reason of being a member of the military or naval forces of the state. Existing law prohibits a person from refusing entrance into specified places to any member of the Army or Navy of the United States or of the military or naval forces of this state because that member wears the uniform of the organization to which he or she belongs. Existing law provides criminal penalties and civil remedies for violations of these prohibitions. This bill would extend the protections against, among other things, discharge from employment to members of the federal reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States and members of the State Military Reserve. The bill would additionally prohibit refusing entrance into specified places to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States because that member wears the uniform of the organization to which he or she belongs. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.