Fact Sheet on AB 91
Assembly Bill 91 (AB 91), introduced by Assembly Member John Harabedian on January 6, 2025, aims to enhance the collection and reporting of demographic data for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities in California. This initiative seeks to address the longstanding issue of underrepresentation of MENA individuals in demographic data, which has implications for policy-making, resource allocation, and community services.
Key Provisions of AB 91:
1. Separate Data Collection: State and local agencies that collect demographic data on ancestry or ethnic origin will be required to use distinct categories and tabulations for major MENA groups. Initially, these groups include, but are not limited to:
o Middle Eastern: Afghan, Iranian, Iraqi, Israeli, Jordanian, Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian, Turkish, Yemeni, among others.
o North African: Algerian, Egyptian, Libyan, Moroccan, Sudanese, Tunisian, and others.
o Transnational MENA Groups: Amazigh or Berber, Armenian, Assyrian, Chaldean, Circassian, Kurdish, etc.
These categories are to be updated within 18 months following the release of each decennial census to reflect the major MENA groups as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. (Source: https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB91/id/3040032)
2. Public Reporting and Accessibility: The collected data must be included in every demographic report on ancestry or ethnic origins published on or after January 1, 2027.
Additionally, this data should be made publicly available, ensuring transparency and accessibility while adhering to privacy laws. (Source:
https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB91/id/3040032)
3. Privacy Safeguards: To protect individual privacy, the bill prohibits the public release of data that could identify individuals. Agencies may aggregate data at various geographic levels (state, county, city, census tract, or ZIP Code) to prevent identification and ensure statistical reliability. (Source: https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB91/id/3040032) Legislative Status:
As of March 24, 2025, AB 91 was re-referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee, with a hearing scheduled for April 8, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. in State Capitol, Room 437. (Source:
https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB91/2025)
Implications:
The enactment of AB 91 would mark a significant step toward recognizing and addressing the unique needs of the MENA community in California. By ensuring accurate data collection and reporting, the bill aims to facilitate more equitable resource distribution, informed policy decisions, and enhanced community services tailored to the MENA population.
For more detailed information, the full text of AB 91 is accessible through the California Legislative Information website:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB91
Call to Action:
Our Assemblywoman, Buffy Wicks, currently serves as Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, a key committee that will review AB 91. Supporters of the bill are encouraged to write to Assemblywoman Wicks and express their support for AB 91.
Email: [email protected]