The CROWN Act Took Effect in California on January 1, 2020

The CROWN Act Took Effect in California on January 1, 2020

The CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair) Act expands the definition of race discrimination under both FEHA and the California Education Code to include discrimination against traits or hairstyles “historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles.” Its purpose is to protect against discrimination in the workplace and schools based on hairstyles by prohibiting employers and schools from enforcing purportedly “race neutral” grooming policies that disproportionately impact persons of color. The CROWN Act, which was signed into law on July 3, 2019, became effective on January 1, 2020. It is the first legislation passed at the state level to prohibit such discrimination, but New York and New Jersey have since followed suit with similar laws (effective July 12, 2019 and December 19, 2019, respectively).