SB515 - Local government: collection of demographic data.

Senate Bill No. 515 CHAPTER 768 An act to add Section 53060.8 to the Government Code, relating to local government. [ Approved by Governor October 13, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 13, 2025. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 515, Richardson. Local government: collection of demographic data. Existing law requires the State Controller’s Office, to the extent the office has completed the functionality necessary, and the Department of Human Resources, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians hired into state employment, to use additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2027, require a city, county, or city and county, including a charter city, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons hired for employment by a city, county, or city and county, to include the additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups, as described above. The bill would make related findings and declarations. By imposing new duties on cities, counties, or a city and county, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 53060.8 is added to the Government Code, to read: 53060.8. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following: (1) The purpose of this section is to enhance the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and consistency of demographic data concerning employees who are descendants of persons enslaved and emancipated in the United States, also known as American Freedmen, enabling more effective policy planning and resource allocation at and between local and state levels. (2) This section emphasizes the importance of safeguarding individual privacy and ensuring the secure handling of collected data in accordance with relevant privacy laws and regulations. (b) On or after January 1, 2027, a city, including a charter city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons hired for employment by a city, county, or city and county, shall include additional collection categories and tabulations for Black or African American groups as described in Section 8310.6. SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that enhancing accuracy, comprehensiveness, and consistency of demographic data concerning employees who are descendants of persons enslaved and emancipated in the United States is a matter of statewide concern and is not a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, Section 1 of this act adding Section 53060.8 to the Government Code applies to all cities, including charter cities. SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.