LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appointed 13 inaugural members Monday to the state’s new Commission on Asian American Affairs, which will “enhance the cause of Asian American rights.”
State lawmakers approved the 14-member commission in April on a 46-0 vote. It will be similar to other state commissions on Indian Affairs, Latino-Americans and African American Affairs when the law takes effect July 19. A final member will be appointed in the future, and members serve four-year terms.
An executive board of the commission will oversee operations between meetings, consisting of a chair, chosen from among the membership, and four other members. Meetings must be held at least once every quarter, in January, April, July and October.
Members will receive $50 for each day performing their duties as well as related expense reimbursements.
“The purpose of the commission is to join representatives of Asian Americans in Nebraska to do all things which the commission may determine to enhance the cause of Asian American rights and to develop solutions to problems common to all Asian Americans residing in Nebraska,” the law, approved in Legislative Bill 1300, states.
State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue, who is Filipina and the only current state lawmaker of Asian descent, introduced the legislation in LB 2 last year. It stalled in the previous biennium.
Sanders said in April that the commission is important for a small but growing population in Nebraska. This includes a committee of advocates who joined to push for the bill, including in a meeting with the governor.
“If we can educate and integrate into the community, the more successful everyone will be,” Sanders said at the time.
The commission’s duties as required by law will be to:
- Promote state and federal legislation…
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