JTA — California could become the first state in the US to consider “Jewish” an ethnic and racial identity, rather than just a religious affiliation.

A groundbreaking bill, which was recently approved by the State Senate and is awaiting a vote in the Assembly, would expand California’s legal definition of ethnicity “to include Jewish identity” in demographic data collection. In other words, state agency forms would need to include a “Jewish” category in questions that allow for voluntary disclosures of ethnicity or race.

If the bill, SB 1387, goes on to become law, this requirement would also apply to public entities ranging from public schools to unemployment offices to prisons. But the clock is ticking, as Monday, August 31, is the final day of the year that California lawmakers can pass legislation. The governor then has until September 30 to sign bills into law or veto them.

The ethnicity legislation has been a priority among many Jewish groups across the Gold Rush state, who believe that Jewish peoplehood should be tied to far more than just religion — and that the law should reflect this unique relationship.

“When state law misrepresents us and puts us in this box of just a religion, there are a number of implications,” said David Bocarsly, CEO of Jewish California, an umbrella coalition for dozens of organizations that sponsored the bill.

“As antisemitism continues to rise, part of that can be attributed to misinformation and misunderstanding,” Bocarsly added.

Proponents of the SB 1387 bill achieved a critical milestone two weeks ago when the State Assembly’s Appropriations Committee passed it to the Assembly floor, where a vote has yet to occur. If the Assembly approves the legislation, it then must return to the State Senate for a “concurrence” vote on amendments before heading to the governor’s desk.

The bill’s architect, State Sen. Henry Stern, is the son of actor Daniel Stern, known for his role as Marv the burglar in “Home Alone.” Stern, who has represented the Malibu region for the past decade, has been a driving force behind bills focused on fighting climate change and improving Holocaust education.

He co-authored the legislation with three Democratic lawmakers who, like Stern, are members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus: State Sen. Ben Allen and State Assemblymembers Marc Berman and Josh Lowenthal.

California is currently home to about 1.2 million Jews, who make up the second-largest Jewish population nationwide — trailing behind only New York. And while these residents may have varying opinions on the legislation, the 43 federations, councils and other organizations that make up Jewish California have thrown their support behind it.

Citing data from the Pew Research Center, a statement from the coalition noted that more than 50% of American Jews describe ancestry and culture as the core of being Jewish, while only 36% choose religion. The passage of SB 1387,........

© The Times of Israel