SB-2018-19-003: Gender Recognition Act

Senate Bill No.: 18-19-12

Date: October 17, 2018

Authored by: Roberto Nieves Cruz, Senator for the College of Science and Mathematics, Assistance from Priscilla Ramos, Senator for Graduate Studies

Referred to: External Affairs

Committee Rec:

Senate Action: October 29, 2018

Title: Gender Recognition Act

1. WHEREAS: The Associated Students, Inc. (AS) is the official voice of over 38,000 students at California State University Northridge; AND

2. WHEREAS: AS is the primary advocate for students at CSUN and provides excellent, meaningful programs and services designed to create and enhance a spirited, learning focused campus environment; AND

1. WHEREAS: AS is always trying to get more students involved and increase student participation within the many programs and services we offer; AND

2. WHEREAS: CSUN does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities, including admission and access; [and] federal and state laws, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, prohibit such discrimination;1 AND

3. WHEREAS: In the past year, the Governor and Secretary of the State of California approved revisions made to Senate Bill No. 179 Chapter 853 in regards to Gender Identity; AND

4. WHEREAS: These revisions include: “Non-Binary” as an option for gender identity to be available on New Birth Certificates from the State Register, DMV Identification Card and Original or Renewal of a Driver’s License; AND

5. WHEREAS: Deleting the requirement an applicant must undergo treatment to seek a court judgment to recognize a change of gender and instead would authorize the petitioner to attest, under penalty of perjury, that the request is to confirm the peron’s legal gender; AND

6. WHEREAS: Authorizes a minor to petition for a change in gender with the written consent of one parent, a legal guardian, or if both parents are deceased and there is no legal guardian, a near relative or friend. Allows the court to deny the petition if neither living parent signs the petition or if one non-consenting parent objects and the court finds the gender change is not in the best interest of the petitioner.2; AND

7. WHEREAS: Requires state agencies and school districts to enforce this new Bill Revision towards their property and to be fully in effect on January 1, 2019; AND

8. WHEREAS: These revisions create a more onerous and unnecessary barriers for people who wish to apply for a change in gender on their state-issued identity documents; THEREFORE LET IT BE

1. RESOLVED: That Associated Student strongly supports the revisions on Senate Bill No. 179 Chapter 853, to be implemented on CSUN campus in all and any forms of documents [Physical copy/ Electronic copy] that includes and requests for a gender identity, AND LET IT BE FURTHER

2. RESOLVED: That Associated Students strongly encourages students, faculty, staff, and administrators to support this bill onto our campus in order to a create a more welcoming environment for students who do not follow the traditional gender norms; AND LET IT BE FINALLY

3. RESOLVED : That Copies of this Resolution be distributed widely, including but not limited to the following

● Governor Jerry Brown ● Senator Robert Hertzberg ● Senator Kamala D. Harris ● Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel ● Senator Toni. G Atkin ● Senator Scott Weiner ● Chancellor Timothy P. White ● CSUN President Dianne Harrison ● CSSA President Mia Kagianas ● The Daily Sundial __________________________________