Bill > SB518

This bill establishes the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within the California Department of Justice to address historical racial injustices and provide reparations to descendants of enslaved persons. The bureau will be led by a director appointed by the Attorney General and confirmed by the Senate, and will consist of four key divisions: Genealogy, Property Reclamation, Education and Outreach, and Legal Affairs. The Genealogy Division will verify descendant status and create a process for individuals to submit claims for compensation, while the Property Reclamation Division will research and document properties taken through racially motivated eminent domain and provide mechanisms for descendants to seek return of property or financial compensation. To be eligible, descendants must prove direct lineage to a person subjected to slavery before 1900, meeting specific criteria such as being emancipated through various means or rendering service under legal restrictions. The bill emphasizes protecting personal and genetic information, requires careful documentation of historical injustices, and allows for potential future expansion of the bureau's responsibilities. Implementation is contingent on legislative funding, and the bureau is tasked with developing strategies to address the lasting societal impacts of slavery, segregation, and discrimination. The bill aims to restore generational wealth and provide a framework for acknowledging and compensating for historical racial harm in California.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB518