About AACRE
Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE) is a progressive voice advocating for justice in California. As the first and only project based in California’s capital with a focus on state legislative and budget advocacy for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, AACRE fights for critical legislation and funding on behalf of our diverse communities, and empowers APIAs to be an active and effective force in advancing civil rights and social justice.
In just 3 years since its start in 2003, AACRE claims the following successes:
AB 309 (Chu) was signed into law in 2003 to require translations of certain contracts for consumers who speak Chinese, Korean, Tagalog and Vietnamese. This bill expanded existing protections for Spanish speakers and will have a positive impact for over two million APIAs in California who are not proficient in English.
In 2004, AACRE led statewide efforts to oppose the Governor’s proposal to eliminate an important cash assistance program for elderly and disabled Filipino World War II veterans. Working with both grassroots community groups and the state legislature, AACRE helped prevent the elimination of the California Veterans Cash Benefits (CVCB) program in the final state budget.
AB 2428 (Chu) responded to the brutal slaying of a 17-year old Taiwanese American student, who was stabbed over 25 times by a white supremacist neighbor. The perpetrator was found not guilty by reason of insanity and institutionalized; his release date is uncertain. Signed into law in 2004, AB 2428 requires, that absent compelling circumstances, courts issue a protective order to protect hate crime victims and their families upon release of a hate crime perpetrator from state custody.
AB 378 (Chu) was signed into law in 2005, and provides hate crime victims with a fair opportunity to seek civil recovery from their attackers.
Over the past 3 years, AACRE has successfully advocated for $270,000 in annual funding to be allocated for the development and maintenance of an electronic clearinghouse of translated notices and informational materials related to education. This database will promote the involvement of limited-English proficient parents in their children’s education. In addition, AACRE has successfully allocated for an additional $850,000 funding for the translations of numerous parental documents into a variety of languages.
In 2006, AACRE successfully sponsored AB 680 (Chan), legislation that will improve public schools' compliance with existing translation requirements. Translations of written notices sent home with children from school are critical for facilitating involvement by limited-English proficient parents.