This California Law Firm Publication by Fisher & Phillips LLP addresses Governor Jerry Brown's signing of AB 987 into law on July 16, 2015. The law amends the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to explicitly prohibit employers and covered entities from retaliating against employees or other individuals who request disability or religious accommodations. The law, which becomes effective on January 1, 2016, overturns Rope v. Auto-Chlor System of Washington, Inc., a 2013 California appellate court decision, which had affirmed that a mere request for an accommodation was not a protected activity sufficient to support a retaliation claim under FEHA.