SB1078 - Gift certificates: cash redemption.

Amended IN Assembly August 21, 2026 Amended IN Assembly June 10, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1078 Introduced by Senator Laird (Coauthor: Assembly Member Pellerin) February 13, 2026 An act to amend Section 51.1 of the Civil Code, relating to civil rights. add Section 1749.52 to the Civil Code, relating to gift certificates. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1078, as amended, Laird. Civil rights violations: service of process: Civil Rights Department. Gift certificates: cash redemption. Existing law, commencing April 1, 2026, makes a gift certificate with a cash value of less than $15 redeemable in cash for its cash value. This bill would authorize the issuer of a gift certificate that contains printed language on the certificate stating a cash redemption threshold that is lower than the amount described above to sell the gift certificate until December 31, 2028, if certain requirements are met, including that the gift certificate was manufactured or printed before April 1, 2026, and the issuer of the gift certificate displays at specified point-of-sale devices, a notice stating that a gift certificate with a cash value of less than $15 is redeemable in cash for its cash value, as provided. Existing law, including the Unruh Civil Rights Act, the Ralph Civil Rights Act of 1976, and the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, specifies various civil rights based on specified characteristics. Among these rights are the right to be free from discrimination in business establishments, right to be free from violence or intimidation, and right to be free from interference with the exercise of legal rights through threats, intimidation, or coercion. Existing law establishes liability for sexual harassment within certain professional relationships. If a violation of any of these specified civil rights is alleged or the application or construction thereof is in issue in any proceeding in the Supreme Court of California, the state court of appeal, or the appellate division of a superior court, existing law requires each party to serve a copy of the party’s brief or petition and brief on the State Solicitor General at the office of the Attorney General. This bill would additionally require each party to serve a copy of the party’s brief or petition and brief on the Director of the Civil Rights Department. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES NO Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 1749.52 is added to the Civil Code, to read: 1749.52. (a) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 1749.5, the issuer of a gift certificate that contains printed language on the certificate stating a cash redemption threshold that is lower than the amount required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 1749.5, may sell the gift certificate until December 31, 2028, if all of the following requirements are met: (1) The gift certificate was manufactured or printed before April 1, 2026. (2) At each point-of-sale device at which a gift certificate may be purchased, loaded with value, or redeemed in cash, the issuer of the gift certificate displays a notice in at least 24-point font stating that a gift certificate with a cash value of less than fifteen dollars ($15) is redeemable in cash for its cash value. (3) The issuer of the gift certificate maintains in the ordinary course of business, records reasonably demonstrating the manufacture or print date of the gift certificate. (b) An issuer of a gift certificate that complies with this section shall not be subject to any civil or criminal penalties solely because the gift certificate contains printed language on the gift certificate stating a cash redemption threshold that is lower than the amount required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 1749.5. SECTION 1. Section 51.1 of the Civil Code is amended to read: 51.1. If a violation of Section 51, 51.5, 51.7, 51.9, or 52.1 is alleged or the application or construction of any of these sections is in issue in any proceeding in the Supreme Court of California, a state court of appeal, or the appellate division of a superior court, each party shall serve a copy of the party’s brief or petition and brief on the State Solicitor General at the office of the Attorney General and on the Director of the Civil Rights Department. A brief shall not be accepted for filing unless the proof of service shows service on the State Solicitor General and on the Director of the Civil Rights Department. Any party failing to comply with this requirement shall be given a reasonable opportunity to cure the failure before the court imposes any sanction and, in that instance, the court shall allow the Attorney General and the Director of the Civil Rights Department reasonable additional time to file a brief in the matter.