[Ayatollahgondola]

This legislature is not wasting any time trying to re-shape the state. The first bills being read so far are far beyond scary, but this one is just plain foolish. Offices cost money, and the legislature is obviously not afraid of spending it frivolously

An act relating to the Office of New Americans.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 23, as introduced, Lara. Office of New Americans.
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 declare the intent of the Legislature to establish
the Office of New Americans to coordinate efforts and facilitate
programs and services that result in the successful integration of
California's new American immigrants.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
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. It is the intent of the Legislature to establish an Office
of New Americans to coordinate efforts and facilitate programs and
services that result in the successful integration of California's
new American immigrant.