Cal. Gov. Code § 8310
The inclusion of any question relative to an applicant's race, sex, marital status, or religion in any application blank or form required to be filled in and submitted by an applicant to any department, board, commission, officer, agent, or employee of this state is prohibited.
Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, subsequent to employment, gender and marital status data may be obtained and maintained for research and statistical purposes when safeguards preventing misuse of the information exist, as approved by the State Fair Employment Practice Commission, except that in no event shall any notation, entry, or record of such data be made on papers or records relating to such employment application.
Ca. Gov. Code § 8310