The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)
The Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) community is the fastest growing community in the State of California. According to the last census, the state’s APIA population is over 12 percent of the total state population. California also has the largest population of Pacific Islanders in the contiguous United States.
(b)
In the 1990 census, the four largest APIA groups, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Japanese, made up 70 percent of the state’s APIA population. In the 2000 census, these four groups now make up 66 percent of the new state’s APIA population. New emerging APIA communities now make up the other half of the state’s APIA population. They bring with them many challenges and assets relative to the changing face of California. Many of these groups are not immigrants, but refugees. Many are here because of failed foreign policy strategies. All are here and will for the most part not go back to their countries of origin.
(c)
The APIA community comprises, and will continue to comprise, a significant population in the State of California, and have unique interests and concerns that must be addressed on a continuing basis in order for APIA communities to flourish in California. It is, therefore, appropriate and beneficial to create a state advisory commission.