Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that requires retailers and department stores to have a gender neutral section for children's products.

Highlights:

• Alleges unjustified differences in similar products that are traditionally marketed either for girls or boys can be more easily identified by the consumer if similar items are displayed closer to one another in one, undivided area of the retail sales floor (Sec. 1-55.7.a).

• Requires a retail department store that offers childcare items or toys for sale to maintain a gender-neutral section or area, to be labeled at the discretion of the retailer, in which a reasonable selection of the items and toys for children that it sells shall be displayed, regardless of whether they have been traditionally marketed for either girls or boys (Sec. 1-55.8.a).

• Specifies this law only applies to department stores that are physically located in California that have a total of 500 or more employees across all California retail department store locations. This law will not apply to retail department stores that are physically located outside California (Sec. 1-55.8.b).

• Establishes a retail department store that fails to comply with this law is liable for a civil penalty, not to exceed $250 for a first violation or $500 for a subsequent violation, which may be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the people of the State of California by the Attorney General, or a district attorney or city attorney, in any court of competent jurisdiction (Sec. 1-55.8.c).

• Classifies the following terms (Sec. 1-55.8.d):

• “Childcare item” as any product designed or intended by the manufacturer to facilitate sleep, relaxation, or the feeding of children, or to help children with sucking or teething;

• “Children” as persons 12 years of age or less; and

• “Toy” as a product designed or intended by the manufacturer to be used by children when they play.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires retailers and department stores to have a gender neutral section for children's products.

Highlights:

• Alleges unjustified differences in similar products that are traditionally marketed either for girls or boys can be more easily identified by the consumer if similar items are displayed closer to one another in one, undivided area of the retail sales floor (Sec. 1-55.7.a).

• Requires a retail department store that offers childcare items or toys for sale to maintain a gender-neutral section or area, to be labeled at the discretion of the retailer, in which a reasonable selection of the items and toys for children that it sells shall be displayed, regardless of whether they have been traditionally marketed for either girls or boys (Sec. 1-55.8.a).

• Specifies this law only applies to department stores that are physically located in California that have a total of 500 or more employees across all California retail department store locations. This law will not apply to retail department stores that are physically located outside California (Sec. 1-55.8.b).

• Establishes a retail department store that fails to comply with this law is liable for a civil penalty, not to exceed $250 for a first violation or $500 for a subsequent violation, which may be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the people of the State of California by the Attorney General, or a district attorney or city attorney, in any court of competent jurisdiction (Sec. 1-55.8.c).

• Classifies the following terms (Sec. 1-55.8.d):

• “Childcare item” as any product designed or intended by the manufacturer to facilitate sleep, relaxation, or the feeding of children, or to help children with sucking or teething;

• “Children” as persons 12 years of age or less; and

• “Toy” as a product designed or intended by the manufacturer to be used by children when they play.

Full Bill Text