(AURN News) — A new bill moving through the California Legislature would require every city and county in the state to update how they track the racial makeup of their workforce — with a specific focus on Black lineage. By clearly identifying which public employees are descendants of U.S. slavery, the data could help lay the groundwork for targeted reparations by ensuring resources and remedies reach the intended population.
According to SB 515, starting Jan. 1, 2027, local governments would need to include new demographic options on hiring forms: one for employees who are descendants of people enslaved in the United States; another for Black employees who are not descendants, such as African or Caribbean immigrants; and a third for those who decline to answer or don’t know.
Supporters say the change is long overdue — and could finally bring policy attention to a community they estimate includes more than 2 million Californians with lineage tied to U.S. slavery. They argue that without this data, cities often overlook key differences in need, experience and opportunity across Black communities.
Opposition has emerged from at least one community group in Carlsbad, which argues that requiring lineage information from employees goes too far.
Advocates stress that the bill includes privacy safeguards and standardized language to help ensure trust, accuracy and participation — while giving cities and counties a clearer picture of who they’re hiring and who’s being left out.
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