The California Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation that would create an agency to pass out reparations payments.
SB 1403, written by State Senator Steven Bradford (D) would establish the California American Freedman Affairs Agency, which would then be tasked with implementing ideas from California’s reparations task force.
“The agency shall implement the recommendations of the task force, as approved by the Legislature and the Governor,” the bill’s text reads. “As part of its duties, the agency shall determine how an individual’s status as a descendant shall be confirmed. Proof of an individual’s descendent status shall be a qualifying criteria for benefits authorized by the state for descendants.”
Two offices will be created under the agency, the “Genealogy Office” and an “Office of General Counsel.”
The Genealogy Office will “support potential reparations claimants by providing access to expert genealogical research to confirm reparations eligibility and expedited assistance with the reparations claims process.”
The Office of General Counsel will “provide legal advice, counsel, and services to the agency and its officials, and to ensure that the agency’s programs are administered in accordance with applicable legislative authority,” the bill states. “The General Counsel shall also advise the head of the agency on legislative, legal, and regulatory initiatives and serve as an external liaison on legal matters with other state agencies and other entities.”
Those entitled to reparations under the legislation include “African American descendants of a chattel enslaved person, or descendants of a free Black person living in the United States prior to the end of the 19th century.”
American Faith previously reported that the task force proposed that lifelong black California residents aged 71 and older may be eligible for reparations of up to $1.2 million.
The majority of California voters oppose reparations payments, however.
A 2023 poll from UC Berkeley co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times found that the majority of California voters oppose reparation payments for black Californians descended from slaves.
According to the poll, 59% of Californians oppose the cash payments, whereas only 28% of California voters support the concept.
When given the prompt, “It’s unfair to ask today’s taxpayers to pay for wrongs committed in the past,” 60% of poll respondents agreed with the statement.
