Section 12100.171 - BRIDGE Project(a) There is hereby established, within the office, the BRIDGE Project.(b) The purpose of the BRIDGE Project is to raise public awareness and promote civil rights and antidiscrimination through education, advertising, and marketing activities.(c) There is hereby created the BRIDGE Project Fund within the office. Moneys in the account shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of this article. The office is authorized to receive donations into the fund.(d) The office may contract with a private, nonprofit agency that is the leading producer of public service advertisements and is able to use the services of volunteer advertising agencies and donated media to conduct the marketing activities required by this article.(e) Any media campaign funded pursuant to this article is subject to all of the following requirements:(1) A media campaign funded pursuant to this article shall not promote a political purpose or feature in any manner the image or voice of any elected public official or candidate for elected office, or directly represent the views of any elected public official or candidate for elected office.(2) Media campaigns may be on a national scale and, to the extent possible, may target audiences in a state or states, or a media market that includes a state or states that have enacted a law that voids or repeals, or has the effect of voiding or repealing, an existing state or local protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, or have 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, including any law that creates an exemption to antidiscrimination laws in order to permit discrimination against same-sex couples or their families or on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.(3) Media campaigns funded pursuant to this article shall be designed to educate the public and promote antidiscrimination, issues LGBTQ+ communities face, civil rights, acceptance and inclusion of all people regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and ability.(f) The office shall convene an advisory committee of no more than 10 members to advise the office on BRIDGE Project media campaigns, including, but not limited to, the content of media campaigns, emerging issues relevant to the purpose of the BRIDGE Project, evaluation of current and potential campaigns, and strategic outreach to communities affected by the campaign. The advisory committee members shall include LGBTQ+ advocates, marketing and public relations professionals, and representatives from research institutions as necessary to develop and evaluate media campaigns funded pursuant to this article. The advisory committee members shall be determined by the director.(g) Nothing in this article shall be interpreted to require a state employee or officer to travel to a state or states that have enacted a law that would discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, or that has the effect of prohibiting conduct or activities otherwise protected under the laws of this state.(h) When implementing this article, the office may consult with any state agency with expertise relating to the purpose of the BRIDGE Project, as outlined in subdivision (b).Ca. Gov. Code § 12100.171
Added by Stats 2023 ch 199 (SB 447),s 3, eff. 9/13/2023.