Steve Bradford
- Democratic
- Senator
- District 35
Author
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 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 individual's status as a descendant would be confirmed. The bill would also require proof of an individual's descendant status to be a qualifying 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' 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.
July 2 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
June 26 hearing postponed by committee.
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (June 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Coauthors revised.
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 30. Noes 7. Page 4066.) Ordered to the Assembly.
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 3982.) (May 16).
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
Set for hearing May 16.
May 6 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.
Set for hearing May 6.
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 2. Page 3723.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Set for hearing April 23.
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on G.O. (Ayes 8. Noes 1. Page 3531.) (April 9).
Set for hearing April 9.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 18.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
|---|---|
| SB1403 | HTML |
| 02/16/24 - Introduced | |
| 03/18/24 - Amended Senate | |
| 04/03/24 - Amended Senate | |
| 04/11/24 - Amended Senate | |
| 05/16/24 - Amended Senate |
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| 04/05/24- Senate Judiciary | |
| 04/19/24- Senate Governmental Organization | |
| 05/03/24- Senate Appropriations | |
| 05/16/24- Senate Appropriations | |
| 05/18/24- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
| 06/07/24- Assembly Judiciary | |
| 06/28/24- Assembly Appropriations |
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