HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 322

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE COMMISSION ON ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE AND CULTURE.

WHEREAS, Asia’s rich cultural heritage has provided pivotal contributions to global civilization and development, including innovations such as paper, gunpowder, the compass, silk, tea production, moveable type printing, acupuncture, row crop farming, the 5G smartphone, and the QR code; spiritual traditions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism; home to an estimated 2,300 languages spoken; foods of many rich flavors, seasonings, and styles; martial arts, such as Kung Fu and Taekwondo; and a wide variety of calligraphy, ceramics, dance, theater, architecture, and literature; and

WHEREAS, Delaware has significantly prospered from the influences and contributions of its citizens who share an Asian and Pacific Islander heritage, through their work in business, healthcare, real estate, law, education, technology, engineering, and other fields; and

WHEREAS, today, the Asian and Pacific Islander community is a large and rapidly growing group in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, many Asian and Pacific Islander nations and territories are places of burgeoning start-up business activities, sites of cutting-edge innovation, and attractive locations for American and other multinational corporations to locate their headquarters; and

WHEREAS, it would be most beneficial to the State of Delaware and jurisdictions in Asia and the Pacific Islands if trade, business, and their cultural ties are expanded and strengthened; and

WHEREAS, it is important to foster opportunities for the vibrance and resilience of Delaware’s communities of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage to counter and dismiss instances of anti-Asian narratives, sentiments, rhetoric, and Sinophobia; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Code already establishes several commissions related to other racial or ethnic groups in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to establish a permanent State-level commission to study, design, encourage, and promote Asian and Pacific Islander-related culture and educational programs and events in Delaware.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Title 29 of the Delaware Code by creating a new Chapter 42 and making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Chapter 42. Delaware Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage and Culture

§ 4201. Delaware Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage and Culture; creation and purpose.

The Delaware Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage and Culture (Commission) is hereby established to do all of the following:

(1) Provide the Governor, members of the General Assembly, and policymakers with recommendations to promote the welfare and interests of all people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who reside in this State.

(2) Establish, maintain, and develop cultural ties between Asian and Pacific Islanders and Asian-Americans and Pacific Islander-Americans.

(3) Foster a special and compelling interest in the historical and cultural backgrounds of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent , as well as in the economic, political, social, and artistic life of the nations and territories involved.

(4) Help study, establish, or promote programs or events that will provide appropriate awareness of the culture, history, heritage, and language of people of Asian and Pacific Islan der descent.

(5) Provide a platform for the promotion of the cultural and historical heritage of any people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.

§ 4202. Membership; Qualifications; Terms.

(a) The Commission consists of 9 members who are appointed as follows:

(1) Three members, appointed by the Governor.

(2) Three members, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(3) Three members, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(b) Each member of this Commission must be a citizen of the United States descended from Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry and must hold a professional license in this State, own a business in this State, or reside in this State.

(c) The members of this Commission serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

§ 4203. Organization; Quorum.

(a) The Commission shall elect a Chair at its first meeting in a calendar year and the Chair shall serve until a replacement is elected. If the Chair becomes vacant, the Commission shall elect a new Chair at its next meeting.

(b) The Chair of the Commission has all of the following duties:

(1) Setting a date, time, and place for the meetings of the Commission.

(2) Supervising the preparation and distribution of meeting notices, agendas, minutes, and other documents prepared by or on behalf of the Commission.

(c) If the Chair becomes vacant, the Secretary of State, or the Secretary’s designee, shall fulfill the duties of the Chair contained in subsection (b) of this section until a replacement is elected by the Commission.

(d) A majority of the membership of the Commission constitutes a quorum to conduct official business.

§ 4204. Authority.

The Commission shall fall under the authority of the Secretary of State and shall have such powers, duties, and functions described in § 4201 of this title and such other duties and functions as may be referred to it by the Governor, the Secretary of State, or the General Assembly.

§ 4205. Subcommittees; creation and purpose.

(a) The Commission may establish subcommittees to engage with other organizations in the State that share a similar mission to exchange ideas and information and provide those organizations the opportunity to serve the Commission.

(b) Any member of the Commission may nominate prospective subcommittee members and the Commission shall consider the nominations and make appointments to any subcommittee by majority vote of the Commission.

§ 4206. Compensation.

The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.

Section 2. The Secretary of State, or the Secretary’s designee, shall set the date, time, and place for the initial organizational meeting of the Commission.

SYNOPSIS

This Act establishes the Delaware Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage and Culture.