California State University: claim eligibility: genealogy and descendancy.

Senator Weber Pierson, with a broad coalition of coauthors, advances a measure to empower the California State University to lead a targeted, time-limited research program that would determine how individuals can prove descent from enslaved ancestors for reparative claims, aligning the effort with recommendations once issued by a reparations Task Force. The proposal would create a dedicated, capped appropriation to fund CSU-led research and allow CSU to collaborate with other universities or nonprofit organizations. It also requires pre-approval input from the California Legislative Black Caucus before each fiscal year and sets a staged timeline for developing the eligibility framework, with work beginning in the 2026–27 academic year and the process for confirming eligibility to be established by the 2029–30 academic year. Reporting to the Legislature and the Governor would occur annually, with a final report outlining findings and implementation options.

Key mechanisms center on establishing a new Chapter governing eligibility based on genealogy and descendancy. Up to six million dollars may be used to conduct research in furtherance of the reparations Task Force recommendations, drawing on funds appropriated in the 2025 Budget Act, and CSU may partner with external institutions to carry out the work. The measure directs CSU to explore options for confirming an individual’s status as a descendant of an enslaved person and to establish a process for conducting or verifying genealogical research for eligibility purposes, to be in place by the 2029–30 academic year. Funding may also support student participation in the research, emphasizing an education-oriented component alongside the scholarly work. Before each fiscal year, CSU must consult with the California Legislative Black Caucus to propose research components to address with the appropriation.

The bill defines “descendant of an enslaved person” through direct lineage to a person enslaved before 1900 and requiring satisfaction of at least one of five criteria: emancipation through legal or extralegal means (including self-purchase or military service), freedom through gradual abolition statutes or constitutional amendments, classification as a fugitive from bondage, designation as contraband by military authorities, or service under legal restrictions tied to ancestry. It also requires CSU to submit an annual status report by October 1 detailing ongoing and completed projects, with the final report presenting research findings, options, and timelines for statewide implementation along with associated costs, and to comply with specified public-reporting standards while temporarily overriding a separate annual reporting requirement for these reports. The measure envisions statewide implementation of any resulting framework only if pursued beyond the research phase and through future policy actions.

Overall, the proposal positions CSU’s research and eligibility-design work as a precursor to broader policy development, linking directly to prior reparations–related recommendations while explicitly foregoing authorization of reparations payments within this measure. It creates a formal, ongoing consultation pathway with the California Legislative Black Caucus and ties the research timeline to a clear sequence of milestones, including process establishment, phased development, and regular progress reporting, designed to inform future decisions about statewide eligibility frameworks and implementation.