Bill > AB2723

This bill establishes the California American Freedmen Affairs Division within the Secretary of State's office to identify and register residents who are "American Freedmen," defined as descendants of individuals emancipated from chattel slavery in the United States by 1865. The division will create a database of these residents, establish a Genealogy Office by July 1, 2028, to verify their status based on genealogical documentation of enslaved ancestors, and an Office of Freedmen Legal Affairs. The bill also mandates the division to develop a mission statement and strategic plan, report its activities to the Legislature starting in 2029, and undergo performance and financial audits. Crucially, personal information collected will be kept confidential within the division, with interagency sharing limited to demographics only, and the division is prohibited from assisting law enforcement activities. This initiative aims to recognize and better serve the needs of this foundational American population in California.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2723