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:
The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of
2the following:
3(a) Immigrants are a vibrant force in California’s changing
4demographics. In 2010, the foreign born represented 13 percent
5of the United States population and 27 percent called California
6home.
7(b) In 2009, 31.4 percent of foreign-born individuals were legal
8permanent residents and 44 percent were naturalized citizens.
9(c) Of the foreign-born immigrants who are over 16 years of
10age, 68 percent participate in the labor force.
P2 1(d) According to the federal Small Business
Administration, 18
2percent of all small business owners in the United States are
3immigrants. According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, small
4businesses owned by immigrants employed an estimated 4.7
5million people in 2007, and according to the latest estimates, these
6small businesses generated more than $776 billion annually.
7According to the United States Census Bureau, despite making up
8only 16 percent of the resident population holding a bachelor’s
9degree or higher, immigrants represent 33 percent of engineers,
1027 percent of mathematicians, statisticians, and computer scientists,
11and 24 percent of physical scientists. In 2011, foreign-born
12inventors were credited with contributing to more than 75 percent
13of patents issued to the top 10 patent-producing universities,
14according to the Partnership for a New American Economy.
15(e) Additionally, the purchasing power of Latinos and Asians,
16many of whom are immigrants, alone will reach $1.5 trillion
and
17$775 billion, respectively, by 2015. And, according to the White
18House, increased immigration to the United States has increased
19the earnings of Americans with more than a high school degree.
20Between 1990 and 2004, increased immigration was correlated
21with increasing earnings of Americans by 0.7 percent and is
22expected to contribute to an increase of 1.8 percent over the long
23term.
24(f) During the 20th century, the nation launched a movement,
25involving federal, state, and local governments, businesses, labor
26unions, schools, and social organizations, to help integrate
27immigrants into society. Today, however, few programs exist at
28the federal or state level to accomplish similar objectives. If they
29exist, they are often uncoordinated amongst themselves.
30(g) Citizenship and civic participation on the part of all
31California residents is vital to the economic and societal
well-being
32of the state.
33(h) It is in the best interest of the state and its residents to
34establish an Office of New Americans in state government to
35advocate for, and promote cooperation and understanding between,
36government agencies and immigrant residents, and to assist
37immigrants toward naturalization.
38(i) It is in the best interest of the state to support the ability of
39all its residents, including immigrants, to be economically
P3 1self-sufficient, participate in our nation’s and state’s political
2process, and develop a sense of responsibility for their community.
It is the intent of the Legislature to establish an Office
4of New Americans to coordinate efforts and facilitate programs
5and services that result in the successful integration of California’s
6new American immigrant.
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