Cybersecurity Policy Report, Governor Signs Bill to Add ‘Immigration Status’ to Privacy Law, (Oct 10, 2023)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D.) has signed legislation that would amend the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to include information about a person’s citizenship or immigration status in the definition of sensitive personal information, the governor’s office announced on Sunday.
“California has long been at the forefront in establishing laws that protect individuals on the basis of citizenship and/or immigration status. Among those are protections related to obtaining housing, a driver’s license, income and healthcare supports, a number of labor protections, and protections for our students,” according to Assembly member Jesse Gabriel (D.), the sponsor of AB 947.
The existing categories of data protected by AB 947 “notably” omit immigration and citizenship status as a category of “sensitive personal information,” Mr. Gabriel wrote in his justification for the bill.
“AB 947 is a simple bill that adds four words to the definition of sensitive information, ‘citizenship and immigration status.’ But adding those words provides important protections for our immigrant neighbors,” he added.
The legislation is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
News: StateLegislation DataPrivacy CCPA