California Lawmakers Request $200 Million to Fight Rising Anti-Asian Hate Crime

May 13, 2021

A group of California lawmakers is seeking $200 million over three years as part of their budget proposal to help fight the rising anti-Asian hate crimes in the state.

Proposal to combat anti-Asian hate: The California Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (APILC) released its budget proposal on Wednesday, detailing where the $200 million would go in its attempt to stop the hate crimes against Asian Americans, according to AP News.

In its budget breakdown, the California APILC will give most of the budget ($109.5 million) to “Victims Services & Prevention.” This budget will help non-profits and community groups to provide “legal services, health care, mental health, victim’s compensation, or counseling” for free.
Other areas to allocate the budget include the “Statewide Hate Crimes Hotline” ($10 million), “Culture and Economic Development” ($20 million) and “Safe Schools for AAPI Students” ($20 million).
Lawmakers have until June 15 for their budget to receive approval before the fiscal year starting July 1.

Other details: The budget proposal will have long-term plans, such as continuing support for Stop AAPI Hate, establishing interpreters to help limited-English residents access services and expanding its data collection on the “needs, challenges, and barriers” of AAPI. Lawmakers will allot $10 million to each of these areas.

$500,000 will also be set aside for a “15-member racial bias task force” at the California Department of Justice.
$10 million is budgeted for administrative purposes, with $7 million towards creating “partnerships with ethnic media as trusted messenger” of the hotline and development plans. $3 million will go towards staff.
Members of the caucus include caucus chairman Democratic Senator Richard Pan of Sacramento and Phil Ting, a Democrat from San Francisco, heading the Assembly Budget Committee.

Featured Image via Jason Leung

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