CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 515Introduced by Senator RichardsonFebruary 19, 2025 An act to add Section 53060.8 to the Government Code, relating to local government. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 515, as introduced, Richardson. Local government: collection of demographic data.Existing law requires the State Controllers Office, to the extent the office has completed the functionality necessary, and the Department of Human Resources, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians hired into state employment, to use additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups.This bill would, commencing January 1, 2027, require a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, to include the additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups, as described above. The bill would make related findings and declarations. By imposing new duties on cities, counties, or a city and county, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 53060.8 is added to the Government Code, to read:53060.8. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(1) The purpose of this section is to enhance the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and consistency of demographic data concerning residents who are descendants of persons enslaved and emancipated in the United States, also known as American Freedmen, enabling more effective policy planning and resource allocation at and between local and state levels.(2) This section emphasizes the importance of safeguarding individual privacy and ensuring the secure handling of collected data in accordance with relevant privacy laws and regulations.(3) The term American Freedman represents the legal and political status inherited by the posterity of the 4,000,000 freed men and women who were emancipated nationally in 1865 by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It also includes the progeny of those historically identified as Blacks, African Americans, or others of African descent who gained freedom from slavery prior to 1865 by either the Emancipation Proclamation, being contrabands under the Confiscation Acts, freedom suits, gradual abolition, or emancipation in northern states, purchasing their own freedom, manumission by owners, or enlisting and fighting for the patriots during the American Revolution.(b) On or after January 1, 2027, a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, shall include additional collection categories and tabulations for Black or African American groups as described in Section 8310.6.SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of this act adding Section 53060.8 to the Government Code addresses a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, Section 1 of this act applies to all cities, including charter cities.SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 515Introduced by Senator RichardsonFebruary 19, 2025 An act to add Section 53060.8 to the Government Code, relating to local government. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 515, as introduced, Richardson. Local government: collection of demographic data.Existing law requires the State Controllers Office, to the extent the office has completed the functionality necessary, and the Department of Human Resources, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians hired into state employment, to use additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups.This bill would, commencing January 1, 2027, require a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, to include the additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups, as described above. The bill would make related findings and declarations. By imposing new duties on cities, counties, or a city and county, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 515
Introduced by Senator RichardsonFebruary 19, 2025
Introduced by Senator Richardson
February 19, 2025
An act to add Section 53060.8 to the Government Code, relating to local government.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 515, as introduced, Richardson. Local government: collection of demographic data.
Existing law requires the State Controllers Office, to the extent the office has completed the functionality necessary, and the Department of Human Resources, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians hired into state employment, to use additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups.This bill would, commencing January 1, 2027, require a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, to include the additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups, as described above. The bill would make related findings and declarations. By imposing new duties on cities, counties, or a city and county, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law requires the State Controllers Office, to the extent the office has completed the functionality necessary, and the Department of Human Resources, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians hired into state employment, to use additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups.
This bill would, commencing January 1, 2027, require a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, to include the additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups, as described above. The bill would make related findings and declarations. By imposing new duties on cities, counties, or a city and county, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 53060.8 is added to the Government Code, to read:53060.8. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(1) The purpose of this section is to enhance the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and consistency of demographic data concerning residents who are descendants of persons enslaved and emancipated in the United States, also known as American Freedmen, enabling more effective policy planning and resource allocation at and between local and state levels.(2) This section emphasizes the importance of safeguarding individual privacy and ensuring the secure handling of collected data in accordance with relevant privacy laws and regulations.(3) The term American Freedman represents the legal and political status inherited by the posterity of the 4,000,000 freed men and women who were emancipated nationally in 1865 by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It also includes the progeny of those historically identified as Blacks, African Americans, or others of African descent who gained freedom from slavery prior to 1865 by either the Emancipation Proclamation, being contrabands under the Confiscation Acts, freedom suits, gradual abolition, or emancipation in northern states, purchasing their own freedom, manumission by owners, or enlisting and fighting for the patriots during the American Revolution.(b) On or after January 1, 2027, a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, shall include additional collection categories and tabulations for Black or African American groups as described in Section 8310.6.SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of this act adding Section 53060.8 to the Government Code addresses a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, Section 1 of this act applies to all cities, including charter cities.SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 53060.8 is added to the Government Code, to read:53060.8. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(1) The purpose of this section is to enhance the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and consistency of demographic data concerning residents who are descendants of persons enslaved and emancipated in the United States, also known as American Freedmen, enabling more effective policy planning and resource allocation at and between local and state levels.(2) This section emphasizes the importance of safeguarding individual privacy and ensuring the secure handling of collected data in accordance with relevant privacy laws and regulations.(3) The term American Freedman represents the legal and political status inherited by the posterity of the 4,000,000 freed men and women who were emancipated nationally in 1865 by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It also includes the progeny of those historically identified as Blacks, African Americans, or others of African descent who gained freedom from slavery prior to 1865 by either the Emancipation Proclamation, being contrabands under the Confiscation Acts, freedom suits, gradual abolition, or emancipation in northern states, purchasing their own freedom, manumission by owners, or enlisting and fighting for the patriots during the American Revolution.(b) On or after January 1, 2027, a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, shall include additional collection categories and tabulations for Black or African American groups as described in Section 8310.6.
SECTION 1. Section 53060.8 is added to the Government Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
53060.8. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(1) The purpose of this section is to enhance the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and consistency of demographic data concerning residents who are descendants of persons enslaved and emancipated in the United States, also known as American Freedmen, enabling more effective policy planning and resource allocation at and between local and state levels.(2) This section emphasizes the importance of safeguarding individual privacy and ensuring the secure handling of collected data in accordance with relevant privacy laws and regulations.(3) The term American Freedman represents the legal and political status inherited by the posterity of the 4,000,000 freed men and women who were emancipated nationally in 1865 by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It also includes the progeny of those historically identified as Blacks, African Americans, or others of African descent who gained freedom from slavery prior to 1865 by either the Emancipation Proclamation, being contrabands under the Confiscation Acts, freedom suits, gradual abolition, or emancipation in northern states, purchasing their own freedom, manumission by owners, or enlisting and fighting for the patriots during the American Revolution.(b) On or after January 1, 2027, a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, shall include additional collection categories and tabulations for Black or African American groups as described in Section 8310.6.
53060.8. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(1) The purpose of this section is to enhance the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and consistency of demographic data concerning residents who are descendants of persons enslaved and emancipated in the United States, also known as American Freedmen, enabling more effective policy planning and resource allocation at and between local and state levels.(2) This section emphasizes the importance of safeguarding individual privacy and ensuring the secure handling of collected data in accordance with relevant privacy laws and regulations.(3) The term American Freedman represents the legal and political status inherited by the posterity of the 4,000,000 freed men and women who were emancipated nationally in 1865 by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It also includes the progeny of those historically identified as Blacks, African Americans, or others of African descent who gained freedom from slavery prior to 1865 by either the Emancipation Proclamation, being contrabands under the Confiscation Acts, freedom suits, gradual abolition, or emancipation in northern states, purchasing their own freedom, manumission by owners, or enlisting and fighting for the patriots during the American Revolution.(b) On or after January 1, 2027, a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, shall include additional collection categories and tabulations for Black or African American groups as described in Section 8310.6.
53060.8. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(1) The purpose of this section is to enhance the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and consistency of demographic data concerning residents who are descendants of persons enslaved and emancipated in the United States, also known as American Freedmen, enabling more effective policy planning and resource allocation at and between local and state levels.(2) This section emphasizes the importance of safeguarding individual privacy and ensuring the secure handling of collected data in accordance with relevant privacy laws and regulations.(3) The term American Freedman represents the legal and political status inherited by the posterity of the 4,000,000 freed men and women who were emancipated nationally in 1865 by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It also includes the progeny of those historically identified as Blacks, African Americans, or others of African descent who gained freedom from slavery prior to 1865 by either the Emancipation Proclamation, being contrabands under the Confiscation Acts, freedom suits, gradual abolition, or emancipation in northern states, purchasing their own freedom, manumission by owners, or enlisting and fighting for the patriots during the American Revolution.(b) On or after January 1, 2027, a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, shall include additional collection categories and tabulations for Black or African American groups as described in Section 8310.6.
53060.8. (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:
(1) The purpose of this section is to enhance the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and consistency of demographic data concerning residents who are descendants of persons enslaved and emancipated in the United States, also known as American Freedmen, enabling more effective policy planning and resource allocation at and between local and state levels.
(2) This section emphasizes the importance of safeguarding individual privacy and ensuring the secure handling of collected data in accordance with relevant privacy laws and regulations.
(3) The term American Freedman represents the legal and political status inherited by the posterity of the 4,000,000 freed men and women who were emancipated nationally in 1865 by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It also includes the progeny of those historically identified as Blacks, African Americans, or others of African descent who gained freedom from slavery prior to 1865 by either the Emancipation Proclamation, being contrabands under the Confiscation Acts, freedom suits, gradual abolition, or emancipation in northern states, purchasing their own freedom, manumission by owners, or enlisting and fighting for the patriots during the American Revolution.
(b) On or after January 1, 2027, a city, county, or city and county, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons, shall include additional collection categories and tabulations for Black or African American groups as described in Section 8310.6.
SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of this act adding Section 53060.8 to the Government Code addresses a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, Section 1 of this act applies to all cities, including charter cities.
SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of this act adding Section 53060.8 to the Government Code addresses a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, Section 1 of this act applies to all cities, including charter cities.
SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of this act adding Section 53060.8 to the Government Code addresses a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, Section 1 of this act applies to all cities, including charter cities.
### SEC. 2.
SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SEC. 3. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
### SEC. 3.