Ahead of Anniversary of Critical Disability Rights Legislation, Attorney General Bonta Reaffirms California’s Commitment to Uplifting and Defending the Rights of Californians with Disabilities

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra - Press Releases · September 25, 2026

September 25, 2026 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today reaffirmed the California Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of Californians with disabilities, especially amid efforts by the Trump Administration to roll back long-standing protections for people with disabilities. Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), signed on September 26, 1973, ensure broad protections for people with disabilities, including their right to live in the most integrated settings appropriate. And in 1990, through the landmark case Olmstead v. L.C. , the U.S. Supreme Court held that states are required to provide services to people with disabilities in community settings rather than in institutions when appropriate. This has allowed countless people with disabilities to live, work, and participate fully in their communities.  “For over 50 years, disability rights laws have upheld the rights of people with disabilities to live in their communities, instead of being forced into institutional settings. These rights — hard-fought by the disability community, enacted by Congress, and affirmed by the Supreme Court — have supported people with disabilities to live in their communities and to enjoy everyday life activities, including family, friends, employment, economic independence, educational advancement, and cultural enrichment. Using flawed legal arguments, the Trump Administration is attempting to slash these longstanding protections. To be clear, the Trump Administration cannot change settled precedent interpreting Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the ADA — nor can it rewrite these laws,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Let me be even clearer: The segregation and isolation of people with disabilities is discrimination and is illegal in California. People with disabilities have the right to live close to their loved ones, and in an environment where they feel comfortable and connected to their communities. In California, over 4.7 million people identify as having a disability, and everyone could experience a disability at some point in their lives. The California Department of Justice recognizes the valuable contributions that people with disabilities make to our communities despite inaccessibility and stigma. I remain committed to upholding the law and will use the full force of my office to protect the rights of Californians with disabilities.”  A June 2026 memo from the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) attempts to reject well-established law — including Olmstead — that protects people with disabilities from unnecessary institutionalization. In the memo, OLC inaccurately asserts that states are not required by law to integrate mentally disabled patients with their peers by providing community or home-based care, an argument that runs counter to long-standing legal precedent and threatens to shape how federal agencies interpret the law and pursue enforcement. In fact, following the June OLC memo, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), along with Texas, Florida, and Alaska, filed a proposed resolution of Texas v. Kennedy , a challenge to the implementation of Section 504 — which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by recipients of federal funds. Originally filed as Texas v. Becerra , the lawsuit was brought by a group of states against HHS to challenge updated 2024 Section 504 rules, specifically the regulations’ provisions regarding community integration for people with disabilities. The resolution asked the court to enter an order vacating references to community integration throughout the Section 504 regulations, including the entirety of the integration provision. On September 23, the court entered the order requested by HHS, closing the case. Attorney General Bonta is committed to enforcing the laws that protect Californians with disabilities and ensuring that California is accessible and safe for all. In August, Attorney General Bonta issued a statewide guidance letter to local jurisdictions reminding them of their obligations under federal and state disability access laws to ensure that people with disabilities have meaningful access to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. In February, he formally announced an investigation related to the emergency response to the Eaton Fire . Specifically, the investigation will seek to determine whether there was potential race, age, or disability discrimination in the emergency preparations and response in the historically Black community of West Altadena. The investigation is ongoing.  Tags: Civil Rights

September 25, 2026 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today reaffirmed the California Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of Californians with disabilities, especially amid efforts by the Trump Administration to roll back long-standing protections for people with disabilities. Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), signed on September 26, 1973, ensure broad protections for people with disabilities, including their right to live in the most integrated settings appropriate. And in 1990, through the landmark case Olmstead v. L.C. , the U.S. Supreme Court held that states are required to provide services to people with disabilities in community settings rather than in institutions when appropriate. This has allowed countless people with disabilities to live, work, and participate fully in their communities.  “For over 50 years, disability rights laws have upheld the rights of people with disabilities to live in their communities, instead of being forced into institutional settings. These rights — hard-fought by the disability community, enacted by Congress, and affirmed by the Supreme Court — have supported people with disabilities to live in their communities and to enjoy everyday life activities, including family, friends, employment, economic independence, educational advancement, and cultural enrichment. Using flawed legal arguments, the Trump Administration is attempting to slash these longstanding protections. To be clear, the Trump Administration cannot change settled precedent interpreting Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the ADA — nor can it rewrite these laws,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Let me be even clearer: The segregation and isolation of people with disabilities is discrimination and is illegal in California. People with disabilities have the right to live close to their loved ones, and in an environment where they feel comfortable and connected to their communities. In California, over 4.7 million people identify as having a disability, and everyone could experience a disability at some point in their lives. The California Department of Justice recognizes the valuable contributions that people with disabilities make to our communities despite inaccessibility and stigma. I remain committed to upholding the law and will use the full force of my office to protect the rights of Californians with disabilities.”  A June 2026 memo from the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) attempts to reject well-established law — including Olmstead — that protects people with disabilities from unnecessary institutionalization. In the memo, OLC inaccurately asserts that states are not required by law to integrate mentally disabled patients with their peers by providing community or home-based care, an argument that runs counter to long-standing legal precedent and threatens to shape how federal agencies interpret the law and pursue enforcement. In fact, following the June OLC memo, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), along with Texas, Florida, and Alaska, filed a proposed resolution of Texas v. Kennedy , a challenge to the implementation of Section 504 — which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by recipients of federal funds. Originally filed as Texas v. Becerra , the lawsuit was brought by a group of states against HHS to challenge updated 2024 Section 504 rules, specifically the regulations’ provisions regarding community integration for people with disabilities. The resolution asked the court to enter an order vacating references to community integration throughout the Section 504 regulations, including the entirety of the integration provision. On September 23, the court entered the order requested by HHS, closing the case. Attorney General Bonta is committed to enforcing the laws that protect Californians with disabilities and ensuring that California is accessible and safe for all. In August, Attorney General Bonta issued a statewide guidance letter to local jurisdictions reminding them of their obligations under federal and state disability access laws to ensure that people with disabilities have meaningful access to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. In February, he formally announced an investigation related to the emergency response to the Eaton Fire . Specifically, the investigation will seek to determine whether there was potential race, age, or disability discrimination in the emergency preparations and response in the historically Black community of West Altadena. The investigation is ongoing.  Tags: Civil Rights

Источник: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra - Press Releases