Bill > SB518

This bill establishes the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within California's Civil Rights Department to address historical harms of slavery and provide reparations. The bureau will be led by a deputy director appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, and will have three primary divisions: Genealogy, Education and Outreach, and Legal Affairs. The Genealogy Division will verify and certify descendants of enslaved persons, with eligibility extending to individuals who can prove direct lineage to someone enslaved prior to 1900 through various legal or historical circumstances. The Education and Outreach Division will develop public education campaigns about historical discrimination, including topics like gentrification, redlining, and urban planning, while the Legal Affairs Division will provide legal guidance and services. The bill mandates strict privacy protections for personal and genetic information collected, requiring explicit consent for disclosure and limiting data use to the bureau's specific purposes. Implementation of the bill is contingent upon appropriate funding from the Legislature, and the bureau is authorized to receive grants and donations from federal, state, local, and non-governmental sources. The legislation aims to comprehensively address the lasting impacts of slavery and systemic racism by creating a structured approach to researching, documenting, and potentially providing reparations to descendants of enslaved persons.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Justice

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