Bills

SB 1403: California American Freedmen Affairs Agency.

  • Session Year: 2023-2024
  • House: Senate

Current Status:

Failed

(2024-08-31: Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry.)

Introduced

First Committee Review

First Chamber

Second Committee Review

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

Former law, until July 1, 2023, established the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, with a Special Consideration for African Americans Who are Descendants of Persons Enslaved in the United States (Task Force).

Former law required the Task Force, among other things, to identify, compile, and synthesize the relevant corpus of evidentiary documentation of the institution of slavery that existed within the United States and the colonies, as specified, and to recommend the form of compensation that should be awarded, the instrumentalities through which it should be awarded, and who should be eligible for this compensation.

This bill would establish the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency in state government, under the control of the secretary, who would be appointed by the Governor. Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill would require the agency to implement the recommendations of the Task Force, as approved by the Legislature and the Governor. The bill would require the agency, as part of its duties, to determine how an individuals status as a descendant would be confirmed. The bill would also require proof of an individuals descendant status to be a qualifying criteria criterion for benefits authorized by the state for descendants. To accomplish these goals, the bill would require the agency to be comprised of a Genealogy Office and an Office of Legal Affairs.

The bill would further require the agency to oversee and monitor existing state agencies and departments tasked with engaging in direct implementation of the policies that fall within the scope of the existing state agencies agencies and departments authority, including policies related to reparations.

Existing law prohibits a state agency, with certain exceptions, from employing any in-house counsel to act on behalf of the state agency or its employees in any judicial or administrative adjudicative proceeding in which the agency is interested, or is a party as a result of office or official duties, or contracting with outside counsel for any purpose.

This bill would exempt the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency from the above-described prohibition.

Discussed in Hearing

Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary14MIN
Jun 11, 2024

Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary

Senate Floor5MIN
May 21, 2024

Senate Floor

Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization5MIN
Apr 23, 2024

Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization

Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization15MIN
Apr 23, 2024

Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization

Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization48SEC
Apr 23, 2024

Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization

Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization23SEC
Apr 23, 2024

Senate Standing Committee on Governmental Organization

Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary10MIN
Apr 9, 2024

Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary

View Older Hearings