Bill > SB437

This bill authorizes the California State University (CSU) to receive up to $6 million from the 2024 Budget Act to conduct research related to reparations for African Americans, specifically focusing on tracing descendants of enslaved individuals. The funding stems from recommendations made by the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, which previously studied the historical impacts of slavery. CSU is required to develop methods for confirming an individual's descendant status and establish a process for genealogical research to verify eligibility for reparative claims, with work on this process to begin by the 2026-27 academic year. The university is encouraged to partner with other universities or nonprofit institutions and must consult annually with the California Legislative Black Caucus to determine research priorities. Additionally, CSU must submit annual reports to the Legislature and Governor detailing research project status, with a final report including research findings, recommendations, implementation timelines, and associated costs. The bill aims to support scholarly research and provide a framework for potentially implementing reparations by systematically documenting and verifying the lineage of descendants of enslaved African Americans.

Budget and Finance, Education, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB437