The California government may soon employ openly Communist people in its ranks.

The state assembly passed a bill Monday that would repeal a policy that had made being a member of the Communist Party a fireable offense. The legislation was supported along party lines with most Republicans opposing it while Democrats mainly favored the policy.

It would overturn a bill was signed into law during the Red Scare of the 1940s and 1950s when Americans worried Russian spies were trying to take over the country.

The bill now heads to the state Senate. If passed and signed, employees who are members of organizations that wish to overthrow a government could still be terminated.