The California state legislature passed AB 395, which requires public schools and agencies to try to avoid scheduling major events on religious holidays, and AB 1836, which extends the state’s nonprofit security grant program to include offsite events hosted by at-risk nonprofits, on Thursday.
AB 395 passed the state Assembly 77-0 with two abstentions, and AB 1836 passed 78-0 with one abstention. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the bills.
Jewish California, a more than 50-year-old nonprofit, has said that it considers both “critically important” for Jews.
Another bill, AB 1763, which calls on public schools to excuse absences for religious holidays without prior approval, passed the state Senate 40-0 on Tuesday. That bill also is bound for the governor’s desk.
