California · Senate Bill · 2023–2024 Regular Session
SB896
California SB 896 — Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act (Chapter 928)

Status ● Enacted Effective Jan 1, 2025 Passage Likelihood N/A

WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 4 REQUIREMENT TYPES

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority
No private right of action. No express enforcement mechanism. Obligations are directed at state agencies and departments; enforcement is through executive branch oversight and gubernatorial direction.
Private Right of Action
No private right of action. Enforcement is exclusive to the designated authority.
Penalties
No monetary penalties, damages, or remedies are specified. The statute imposes duties on state agencies and departments without an express enforcement mechanism or penalty structure.

What This Bill Requires

Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.

Statutory Text
Analysis & Obligations
Section 1
Short title

This act shall be known as the Generative Artificial IntelligenceGenerative artificial intelligence"Generative artificial intelligence" or "GenAI" means an artificial intelligence system that can generate derived synthetic content, including text, images, video, and audio that emulates the structure and characteristics of the system's training data.Gov. Code § 11549.64(b) Accountability Act.

This section establishes the short title of the act as the Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act. It creates no compliance obligations.

Gov. Code § 11549.63
Legislative findings and declarations

(a) The Legislature recognizes the tremendous potential of artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Gov. Code § 11549.64(a) (AI) to improve the lives of its citizens and the functioning of government. However, the Legislature also recognizes that the use of AI must be guided by principles of fairness, transparency, privacy, and accountability to ensure that the rights and opportunities of all Californians are protected in the age of artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Gov. Code § 11549.64(a).

(b) The Legislature further recognizes that generative artificial intelligenceGenerative artificial intelligence"Generative artificial intelligence" or "GenAI" means an artificial intelligence system that can generate derived synthetic content, including text, images, video, and audio that emulates the structure and characteristics of the system's training data.Gov. Code § 11549.64(b) (GenAI) enables significant, beneficial uses through its unique capabilities, but GenAI raises novel risks compared to conventional AI across critical areas, including democratic and legal processes, biases and equity, public health and safety, and the economy, and requires measures to address insufficiently guarded governmental systems and unintended or emergent harmful effects from this technology. Additionally, because humans have explicit and implicit biases built into our society, GenAI has the capacity to amplify these biases as it learns from input data. Therefore, it is imperative to consider the implications on Californians of, among other categories, different regions, income, races, ethnicities, gender, ages, religions, abilities, and sexual orientation for all GenAI inputs, outputs, and products for both prioritizing implementations that may promote equity and guarding against bias and other negative impacts.

(c) No individual or group should be discriminated against on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic in the design, development, deployment, or use of AI systems. The unprecedented speed of innovation and deployment of GenAI technologies necessitates proactive guardrails to protect against potential risks or malicious uses, including, but not limited to, bioterrorism, cyberattacks, disinformation, deception, violation of privacy, and discrimination or bias.

(d) The Legislature affirms the importance of transparency in the use of GenAI systems. The public has the right to know when they are interacting with GenAI being used by the state and to have an accessible identification of that interaction.

(e) The Legislature recognizes that the use of GenAI systems must be consistent with the protection of privacy and civil liberties and must be guided by a commitment to equity and social justice. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this legislation that all GenAI systems be designed and deployed in a manner that is consistent with state and federal laws and regulations regarding privacy and civil liberties and minimizes bias and promotes equitable outcomes for all Californians.

(f) This act, in addition to the 2022 White House Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, executive guidance from the governor, statutory or regulatory requirements, and evolving best practices should guide the decisionmaking of state agencies, departments, and subdivisions in the review, adoption, management, governance, and regulations of automated decisionmaking technologies.

(g) Public-private cross-sectional partnerships should be established to train students to meet the GenAI workforce development needs of the state, including providing instruction on AI and related ethical, privacy, and security considerations while advancing research on best practices. Further, there is the need for the state to recruit, retain, and train GenAI professionals in certain state jobs, and agencies should collaborate to facilitate a pipeline and infrastructure to accomplish that goal.

(h) State agencies, departments, and boards should utilize their authority to protect consumers, patients, passengers, and students from fraud, discrimination, and threats to privacy and to address other risks that may arise from the use of GenAI, including risks to financial stability. State agencies, departments, and boards should consider rulemaking and emphasize or clarify if existing regulations and guidance apply to GenAI or other automated decisionmaking systems.

This section sets out the Legislature's findings regarding the potential of artificial intelligence and the risks of generative AI, including threats to democratic processes, equity, privacy, public safety, and the economy. It affirms principles of transparency, non-discrimination, and equity in state GenAI use and encourages public-private partnerships for workforce development. These findings provide interpretive context for the operative provisions that follow but impose no independent compliance duties.

Gov. Code § 11549.64
Definitions

(a) "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Gov. Code § 11549.64(a)" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.

(b) "Generative artificial intelligenceGenerative artificial intelligence"Generative artificial intelligence" or "GenAI" means an artificial intelligence system that can generate derived synthetic content, including text, images, video, and audio that emulates the structure and characteristics of the system's training data.Gov. Code § 11549.64(b)" or "GenAI" means an artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Gov. Code § 11549.64(a) system that can generate derived synthetic content, including text, images, video, and audio that emulates the structure and characteristics of the system's training data.

(c) "PersonPerson"Person" means a natural person.Gov. Code § 11549.64(c)" means a natural personPerson"Person" means a natural person.Gov. Code § 11549.64(c).

(d) "ReportReport"Report" means the report to the Governor required by Executive Order No. N-12-23.Gov. Code § 11549.64(d)" means the reportReport"Report" means the report to the Governor required by Executive Order No. N-12-23.Gov. Code § 11549.64(d) to the Governor required by Executive Order No. N-12-23.

This section defines the key terms used throughout the chapter: artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), person (limited to natural persons), and report (the Governor's report required by Executive Order N-12-23). These definitions are referenced by the operative provisions in Sections 11549.65 and 11549.66 but impose no independent compliance duties.

Gov. Code § 11549.65
Report updates, critical infrastructure risk analysis, and agency GenAI considerations
Government

(a) 1 The Department of Technology, under the guidance of the Government Operations Agency, the Office of Data and Innovation, and the Department of Human Resources, shall update the reportReport"Report" means the report to the Governor required by Executive Order No. N-12-23.Gov. Code § 11549.64(d), as needed, to respond to significant developments and shall, as appropriate, consult with academia, industry experts, and organizations that represent state exclusive employee representatives.

(b)(1) 2 The Office of Emergency Services shall, as appropriate, perform a risk analysis of potential threats posed by the use of GenAI to California's critical infrastructure, including those that could lead to mass casualty events.

(b)(2) 2 The analysis required by paragraph (1) shall be provided to the Governor, and, if appropriate, shall include recommendations reflecting changes to artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Gov. Code § 11549.64(a) technology, its applications, and risk management, including further private actions, administrative actions, and collaboration with the Legislature to guard against potential threats and vulnerabilities.

(b)(3) 3 A high-level summary of the analysis required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted annually to the Legislature.

(c) 4 Any state agency or department shall consider procurement and enterprise use opportunities in which GenAI can improve the efficiency, effectiveness, accessibility, and equity of government operations consistent with the Government Operations Agency, the Department of General Services, and the Department of Technology's policies for public sector GenAI procurement.

(d) 5 Legal counsel for any state agency or department shall consider any potential impact of GenAI on regulatory issues under the respective agency's or department's authority and recommend necessary updates, if appropriate, as a result of this evolving technology.

This section imposes three distinct obligations on state executive branch entities. The Department of Technology must update the Governor's report (per Executive Order N-12-23) as needed in response to significant GenAI developments. The Office of Emergency Services must perform risk analyses of GenAI threats to California's critical infrastructure — including mass-casualty scenarios — provide results to the Governor with recommendations, and submit a high-level annual summary to the Legislature. Additionally, all state agencies and departments must consider GenAI procurement and enterprise use opportunities, and agency legal counsel must evaluate GenAI's regulatory implications within their respective domains.

Compliance actions 5 items
1
The Department of Technology must update the Governor's reportReport"Report" means the report to the Governor required by Executive Order No. N-12-23.Gov. Code § 11549.64(d) (per Executive Order N-12-23) as needed to respond to significant GenAI developments, consulting with academia, industry experts, and state employee representatives as appropriate.
R-02.1
2
The Office of Emergency Services must perform a risk analysis of potential GenAI threats to California's critical infrastructure, including mass-casualty scenarios, and provide the analysis and any recommendations to the Governor.
S-01.1
3
The Office of Emergency Services must submit a high-level summary of its GenAI critical-infrastructure risk analysis to the Legislature annually.
R-03.1
4
State agencies and departments must consider GenAI procurement and enterprise use opportunities that could improve the efficiency, effectiveness, accessibility, and equity of government operations, consistent with applicable state procurement policies.
5
Legal counsel for state agencies and departments must consider the potential impact of GenAI on regulatory issues within their agency's authority and recommend necessary updates as appropriate.
Gov. Code § 11549.66
GenAI communication disclaimer and human contact requirements
Government

6 A state agency or department that utilizes GenAI to directly communicate with a personPerson"Person" means a natural person.Gov. Code § 11549.64(c) regarding government services and benefits shall ensure that those communications include both of the following:

(a) 6 A disclaimer that indicates to the personPerson"Person" means a natural person.Gov. Code § 11549.64(c) that the communication was generated by GenAI.

(a)(1) 6 For written communications involving physical and digital media, including letters, email, and other occasional messages, the disclaimer shall appear prominently at the start of each communication.

(a)(2) 6 For written communications involving continuous online interactions, including interactions with chatbots, the disclaimer shall be prominently displayed throughout the interaction.

(a)(3) 6 For audio communications, the disclaimer shall be provided verbally at the start and end of the interaction.

(a)(4) 6 For video communications, the disclaimer shall be prominently displayed throughout the interaction.

(b) 7 Information, or a link to an internet website containing information, describing how the personPerson"Person" means a natural person.Gov. Code § 11549.64(c) may contact a human employee of the state agency or department.

This section imposes the bill's most concrete compliance obligation: any state agency or department that uses generative AI to communicate directly with a person about government services and benefits must include a GenAI disclaimer and information on how to reach a human employee. The disclaimer requirements are medium-specific — written communications require prominent placement at the start; chatbot and video interactions require continuous display throughout; audio interactions require verbal disclosure at both start and end. The human-contact information may be provided directly or via a link to an internet website.

Compliance actions 2 items
6
State agencies and departments that use GenAI to communicate directly with individuals about government services and benefits must include a prominent disclaimer indicating the communication was generated by GenAI — at the start of written communications, continuously displayed during chatbot and video interactions, and verbally at the start and end of audio interactions.
T-01.1
7
State agencies and departments that use GenAI to communicate directly with individuals about government services and benefits must provide information, or a link to information, describing how the personPerson"Person" means a natural person.Gov. Code § 11549.64(c) may contact a human employee of the agency or department.
T-01.1

Passage Likelihood

Enacted
Status Enacted

Legislative History

2024-01-03 Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
2024-01-04 From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 3.
2024-02-14 Referred to Coms. on G.O. and JUD.
2024-03-14 Set for hearing April 9.
2024-04-09 Set for hearing April 16 in JUD. pending receipt.
2024-04-09 From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 14. Noes 0. Page 3528.) (April 9).
2024-04-10 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2024-04-17 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 3634.) (April 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2024-04-22 Set for hearing April 29.
2024-04-29 April 29 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.
2024-05-10 Set for hearing May 16.
2024-05-16 From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3962.) (May 16).
2024-05-16 Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2024-05-20 Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2024-05-22 Ordered to special consent calendar.
2024-05-24 Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4207.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2024-05-24 In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2024-06-03 Referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2024-06-04 From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2024-07-03 From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 2).
2024-07-03 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2024-08-07 August 7 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
2024-08-15 From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 15).
2024-08-19 Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2024-08-20 Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2024-08-26 Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 6546.) Ordered to the Senate.
2024-08-26 In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2024-08-27 Ordered to special consent calendar.
2024-08-28 Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5612.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2024-09-04 Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
2024-09-29 Approved by the Governor.
2024-09-29 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 928, Statutes of 2024.

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-05-15
AI generated