§ 52:4-6 — Findings, declarations.

1. The Legislature finds and declares that: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), Middle Easterners and North Africans (MENA), and South Asian and Indian Diaspora peoples are significant and important communities in New Jersey. New Jersey has nearly one million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders residing in the State, about 10 percent of the State population. The number of Middle Eastern and North African and South Asian and Indian Diaspora residents cannot be accurately determined with the current collection methods. The members of these communities have made significant contributions to the culture and economy of this State. Due to the diversity in the AANHPI communities, the United States Office of Management and Budget's Statistical Policy Directive No. 15, entitled "Race and Ethnic Standards for Federal Statistics," separated the "Asian and Pacific Islander" category into two distinct and separate categories, now called "Asians" and "Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders." These two distinct categories were first used in the 2000 United States Census. The United States Census Bureau currently reports data for more than 20 different ethnicities within these two categories. The MENA communities in this State and on the federal level are categorized as "White." However, this racial identity has not matched the discrimination in housing, workplaces, and through daily life that many in the MENA community say they have faced. Many younger people in the MENA community often compare their experiences to those in communities of color. However, with a lack of a clear category, this paradox has been difficult to show through data. The South Asian and Indian Diaspora communities in this State often have difficulty selecting which category they fit into when filling out demographic information. Given India's extensive migration history over the centuries, ethnic Indians have established communities on every continent as well as on islands in the Caribbean and the Pacific and Indian Oceans. These communities are wide-ranging and while they do share geographical and cultural commonalities, they also experience diverse social, educational, health, and economic differences that are unique to their respective communities. Existing State law requires demographic data to be collected, which includes the AANHPI communities. However, the collection by State agencies is often far too general and does not incorporate breakdowns for the numerous ethnic groups within the AANHPI communities. Additionally, State law does not require such a breakdown for the MENA and South Asian and Indian Diaspora communities. Also, this data is not made as accessible as it can be to the public. Data should be updated on a regular basis and made accessible to the public so that local governments, elected officials, decision makers, and other stakeholders can use the information to strategically target programs for those most in need. Given the diversity of languages and culture, separating data for additional Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and North African, and South Asian and Indian Diaspora ethnic groups and making that data publicly accessible are critical for enhancing our State's understanding of the needs and experiences of these different communities. L.2023, c.264, s.1.