(a) Identify barriers to the economic development and trade opportunities of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans within this state, and advise state agencies and officials on issues related to those barriers.
(b) Establish an Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs Network to facilitate the work of the commission.
(c) Identify and examine the needs of Asian and Pacific Islander American residents of this state.
(d) Compile information relating to services available to Asian and Pacific Islander American residents of this state, including but not limited to education and training programs, work programs, dispute resolution programs, trade opportunities, housing programs, health programs, mental health programs including alcohol and drug services, and welfare programs from local, state and federal sources and through private agencies.
(e) Develop and sponsor programs in cooperation with Asian and Pacific Islander American groups and organizations to inform Asian and Pacific Islander American residents of this state of services available to them.
(f) Assess all programs of state agencies operating for the benefit of equity for Asian and Pacific Islander American residents of this state and make recommendations to the appropriate agencies for the improvement of those programs.
(g) Serve as liaison to other state boards and commissions as required by law.
(h) Assist the Governor on the Governor’s equity-focused initiatives with policy advice, the study of long-standing community issues and the provision of community input, a community voice and leadership, as requested.
(i) Submit to the Governor at the beginning of each biennium a report that describes the needs of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans identified under paragraph (c) of this subsection and that specifies the programs, projects and activities that the commission will undertake regarding those needs.
(j) Meet at least annually in a joint meeting of the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, the Commission on Hispanic Affairs, the Commission on Black Affairs and the Commission for Women to consider and act upon issues of mutual importance to the missions and statutory duties of the commissions.
(2) As used in this section, "Asian and Pacific Islander American" means a resident of the United States who is of Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry. [1995 c.665 §2; 1999 c.493 §3; 1999 c.690 §2; 2003 c.244 §1; 2005 c.233 §2; 2011 c.273 §3; 2013 c.353 §4; 2021 c.290 §9]