BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 1737
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 9, 2000

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 
                              Carole Migden, Chairwoman

                    SB 1737 (Hayden) - As Amended:  June 29, 2000 

          Policy Committee:                              EducationVote:7-1

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill:

          1)Requests the Regents of the University of California to  
            organize a conference of scholars to draft a research proposal  
            to analyze the economic benefits of slavery that accrued to  
            owners and businesses, including insurance companies and their  
            subsidiaries, that received those benefits.

          2)To the extent funding is available, requires the State Library  
            to participate in the effort to examine the economic legacy of  
            slavery in California.

          3)Requests the Regents to submit findings by Jan 1, 2002.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Unknown GF costs, likely less than $100,000 to UC to organize a  
          conference to assemble scholars to examine the economic benefits  
          of slavery to individuals and businesses.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose .  The author contends this measure would determine the  
            extent to which businesses, including insurance companies,  
            profited from slavery.  Currently no documentation exists that  
            analyses the economic impact of slavery

           2)National debate  .  In recent years, Congress has debated making  
            reparations to the heirs and families of slaves.  The lack of  
            data is an obstacle to determining potential compensation. 









                                                                  SB 1737
                                                                  Page  2

           3)Related Legislation  .  SB 2199 (Hayden) requires the Insurance  
            Commissioner to request and obtain information from insurers  
            licensed in California regarding any slaveholder policies  
            issued by the insurer or any predecessor corporation during  
            the slavery era.  The bill is pending a hearing in this  
            committee.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jai Sookprasert / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081