AB 2420 (Lieu): Support the Diversity of Asian Pacific Americans
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs) represent 15% of California’s population. From 1990 to 2000, the APIA population grew by as much as 52%. In four counties, APIAs are the second largest major ethnic group and the majority of the population in eight cities across California.
While APIAs are often misperceived as a homogeneous group, they actually represent dozens of different cultures, languages, and ethnic groups with a wide range of economic, educational, and social needs. Accurate data is critical in developing effective policies that respond to the needs of California’s residents. Although APIAs overall may appear to be faring better on certain social indicators, only data broken out by individual APIA ethnic groups can truly provide a complete picture.
On the federal level, the US Census has already recognized the diversity of APIA communities by collecting and tabulating data for each of the individual ethnic groups outlined in AB 2420. Similarly, California, which is home to the greatest numbers of APAs in the country, should also ensure that its state data collection efforts represent the diversity of APIA communities. AB 2420 would ensure that California’s data standards are aligned with the groups that are reported by the US Census.
More information on this legislation is provided in the RESOURCES section, at right.
Unfortunately, AB 2402 did not move out of Senate Appropriations Committee in August 2006 and was not sent to full Legislature. The proposal will be re-introduced in the 2007 legislative session.