By Guy Page
A bill creating a Division of Racial Statistics has been approved by House Judiciary and now goes to the full House of Representatives.
According to the bill’s explanation of purpose, H546 would “collect and analyze data relating to racial disparities with the intent to center racial equity throughout these efforts. The purpose of the Division is to create, promote, and advance a system and structure that provides access to appropriate data and information, ensuring that privacy interests are protected and principles of transparency and accountability are clearly expressed. The data are to be used to inform policy decisions that work toward the amelioration of racial disparities across various systems of State government.”
The bill allocates $363,000 from the General Fund to the Office of Racial Equity for the Division of Racial Justice Statistics. $3,360 from the General Fund to the Office of Racial Equity for per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses for members of the Racial Justice Statistics Advisory Council, and $520,300 from the General Fund to the Agency of Digital Services to assist and support the Division of Racial Justice Statistics in the Office of Racial Equity.