California Assembly Passes Constitutional Amendment to Allow Race-Based Programs

Students hoping for a repeal of California's Proposition 209, which banned affirmative action, hold signs outside of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 13, 2012. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

An amendment to California’s Constitution that would allow the governor to approve funding for programs targeting specific ethnic groups, genders, or sexual orientations passed the Assembly this month and will next be heard in the Senate.

If approved there by a two-thirds majority, as was the case in the Assembly, the issue will be placed on the 2024 ballot for voters to decide.