California budgets $12M for reparations laws: What to know

(NewsNation) — The state of California has allocated $12 million for reparations bills, although how the money will be distributed is still unclear.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the state’s new $297.9 billion budget over the weekend, but specificity around what programs would benefit from reparations money was lacking.

Lawmakers passed bills in May, sending them to the State Assembly. At the time, State Sen. Steven Bradford — an L.A.-area Democrat — said California “bears great responsibility” for the past.

When will Black Californians be paid?

While Black Californians may be hoping for sweeping direct payments in 2024, that is not under consideration from lawmakers, according to The Associated Press.

After two years of study from the reparations task force — the first of its kind — on the ways in which California could atone for discrimination against African Americans, lawmakers decided against introducing a proposal for widespread payments to descendants of enslaved Black people.

What is under consideration?

A formal apology for California’s discrimination against the Black community is still under deliberation by the state legislature.

California’s legislative branch is also considering identifying Black families who had their homes unfairly seized from them through eminent domain.

An agency to administer reparations is also a possibility. An Assembly Committee on Appropriations estimate said it could cost California between $3 million to $5 million annually to operate.

What reparations weren’t included?

In addition to a lack of ubiquitous deposits, lawmakers also chose to leave out legislation that would offer free tuition to public colleges for those who descend from African Americans who were enslaved.

Despite efforts from state Sen. Steven Bradford — a Democrat — for housing and property tax assistance to be part of the reparations, lawmakers rebuked them in May.

What did Democrats and Republicans say?

Bradford was pleased with the outcome but added that he had higher hopes for the amount of money allocated.

“We often say the budget is a reflection of our values and our priorities, so the fact that there’s any money for reparations should be a reason for celebrating,” Bradford said.

Democratic Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire also felt the allocation was on the lower end.

“The $12 million is not nearly enough,” he remarked at a Monday event in the state.

Gov. Newsom’s decision to sign off on the reparations budget was criticized, particularly by Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher.

“Slavery was a stain on our nation’s history, but I don’t believe it’s fair to try to right the wrongs on the past at the expense of the people today who did nothing wrong,” Gallagher said in a statement.

“More than a quarter of Californians are immigrants — how can we look at those people, who are struggling as it is, and say it’s on them to make up for something that happened more than 150 years ago?”

Kamilah Moore, who was the chair of the reparations task force, was far more pleased with the outcome than Gallagher.

“It means that they’re taking accountability and responsibility, and they’re acknowledging the harms and the atrocities to this particular population,” Moore said. “That’s a huge step that should not be overlooked.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.