Bill Text: CA SB23 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Task Force on New American Integration.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-08-30 - Set, second hearing. Held in committee and under submission. [SB23 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SB23-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 23 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 24, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 25, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 1, 2013
INTRODUCED BY Senator Lara
DECEMBER 3, 2012
An act to add and repeal Article 8.5 (commencing with Section
12092) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the
Government Code, relating to state government.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 23, as amended, Lara. Task Force on New American Integration.
Existing law establishes the Naturalization Services Program,
administered within the Department of Community Services and
Development, to fund community-based organizations in assisting legal
permanent residents in obtaining citizenship.
This bill would, until January 1, 2018, establish the Task Force
on New American Integration within the office of the Governor to
provide, among other things, recommendations to the Legislature on
protocols and collaboration among governmental agencies to streamline
resources to assist immigrant integration.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) Immigrants are a vibrant force in California's changing
demographics. In 2010, the foreign born represented 13 percent of the
United States population and 27 percent called California home.
(b) In 2009, 31.4 percent of foreign-born individuals were legal
permanent residents and 44 percent were naturalized citizens.
(c) Of the foreign-born immigrants who are over 16 years of age,
68 percent participate in the labor force.
(d) According to the federal Small Business Administration, 18
percent of all small business owners in the United States are
immigrants. According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, small
businesses owned by immigrants employed an estimated 4.7 million
people in 2007, and according to the latest estimates, these small
businesses generated more than $776 billion annually. According to
the United States Census Bureau, despite making up only 16 percent of
the resident population holding a bachelor's degree or higher,
immigrants represent 33 percent of engineers, 27 percent of
mathematicians, statisticians, and computer scientists, and 24
percent of physical scientists. In 2011, foreign-born inventors were
credited with contributing to more than 75 percent of patents issued
to the top 10 patent-producing universities, according to the
Partnership for a New American Economy.
(e) Additionally, the purchasing power of Latinos and Asians, many
of whom are immigrants, alone will reach $1.5 trillion and $775
billion, respectively, by 2015. And, according to the White House,
increased immigration to the United States has increased the earnings
of Americans with more than a high school degree. Between 1990 and
2004, increased immigration was correlated with increasing earnings
of Americans by 0.7 percent and is expected to contribute to an
increase of 1.8 percent over the long term.
(f) During the 20th century, the nation launched a movement,
involving federal, state, and local governments, businesses, labor
unions, schools, and social organizations, to help integrate
immigrants into society. Today, however, few programs exist at the
federal or state level to accomplish similar objectives. If they
exist, they are often uncoordinated amongst themselves.
(g) Citizenship and civic participation on the part of all
California residents is vital to the economic and societal well-being
of the state.
(h) It is in the best interest of the state and its residents to
establish an Office of New Americans in state government to advocate
for, and promote cooperation and understanding between, government
agencies and immigrant residents, and to assist immigrants toward
naturalization.
(i) It is in the best interest of the state to support the ability
of all its residents, including immigrants, to be economically
self-sufficient, participate in our nation's and state's political
process, and develop a sense of responsibility for their community.
SEC. 2. Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 12092) is added to
Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
to read:
Article 8.5. New American Integration
12092. (a) There is in the Governor's office the Task Force on
New American Integration to provide all of the following:
(1) On or before January 1, 2015, recommendations to the
Legislature on protocols and collaboration among governmental
agencies to streamline resources to assist immigrant integration.
(2) On or before January 1, 2015, policy recommendations to the
Legislature on integrating immigrants in the state, including a
recommendation on the establishment of an Office of New Americans.
(3) No later than six months after the date when changes in
federal immigration law occur to authorize undocumented immigrants to
change their legal status, initial recommendations to the
Legislature to ensure the state is ready to assist new Americans
eligible to change their legal status pursuant to federal law.
(b) (1) The task force shall be comprised of 15 members. On or
before April 1, 2014, nine members shall be appointed by the
Governor, three members shall be appointed by the Senate
President pro Tempore Committee on Rules , and
three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. In
order to be eligible for appointment to the task force, an individual
shall have experience and expertise in immigrant integration.
(2) Members of the task force shall serve at the pleasure of the
appropriate appointing power. Upon the occurrence of a vacancy, the
appointing power shall appoint a replacement within 20 days of the
vacancy.
(c) Members of the task force shall not be compensated, but shall
be reimbursed for necessary expenses to attend meetings.
(d) The Governor shall select the chair of the task force from the
members appointed, pursuant to subdivision (b).
(e) Meetings of the task force shall be subject to the open
meeting requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9
(commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1).
(f) The task force shall meet at least four times during the
calendar year and meet at least once within the Counties of Fresno,
Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco.
(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends
that date.
