Existing law prohibits an employer or any other person from engaging in, or directing another person to engage in, an unfair immigration-related practice against a person for the purpose of, or with the intent of, retaliating against any person for exercising a right protected under state labor and employment laws or under a local ordinance applicable to employees, as specified. Existing law defines unfair immigration-related practice to include, among other things, threatening to file or filing a false police report. Existing law authorizes a civil action for equitable relief and damages or penalties, as specified, by an employee or other person who is the subject of an unfair immigration-related practice.

This bill would also prohibit an employer or other person or entity from engaging in or directing another person or entity to engage in coercion against any person by engaging in unfair immigration-related practices. The bill would make an employer who violates these provisions liable for a civil penalty not exceeding $10,000 per employee for each violation, as specified. The bill would also make related and conforming changes to these provisions.