The California Department of Justice said Friday that Attorney General reaffirmed the office’s commitment to defending the civil rights of Californians with disabilities ahead of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
The release said federal actions this year threaten established law; it cited a June 2026 memo from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel that the release said attempts to reject Olmstead v. L.C., and it described a proposed resolution in Texas v. that asked a court to remove references to community integration from Section 504 regulations.
The release said the court entered the order requested by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Sept. 23, closing the case.
Attorney General Bonta was quoted saying, “Let me be even clearer: The segregation and isolation of people with disabilities is discrimination and is illegal in California.” He also was quoted saying, “I remain committed to upholding the law and will use the full force of my office to protect the rights of Californians with disabilities.”
The release said the attorney general’s office has taken specific steps at the state level; it sent a statewide guidance letter in August reminding local jurisdictions of their obligations under federal and state disability access laws for emergency preparedness, response and recovery, and it announced in February an ongoing investigation into whether race, age or disability discrimination shaped emergency preparations and response to the Eaton Fire in West Altadena.
The release said that in California over 4.7 million people identify as having a disability and that the office will continue enforcing laws intended to keep people with disabilities integrated in their communities.
Federal
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Named 2 times in this story.
Portrait: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
State
Rob Bonta
Attorney General · Democrat
Named 4 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
Sources & methodology
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