The Legislature finds and declares that: (1) population size and distribution patterns in California exert a major influence on the physical, social, and economic structure of the state and on the quality of the environment generally; (2) sound and current data and methods to estimate population trends are necessary to enable state, regional, and local agencies to plan and function properly; and (3) there is a critical need for a proper study of the implications of present and future population trends in order that state, regional, and local agencies might develop or reexamine policies and actions based thereon.

The Demographic Research Unit shall:

(a) Develop basic demographic data and statistical compilations, which may include a current population survey and a mid-decade census.

(b) Design and test methods of research and data collection.

(c) Conduct local population estimates as required by law.

(d) Validate all official census data and population statistics.

(e) Analyze and prepare projections of enrollments in public schools, colleges, and universities.

(f) Analyze governmental records to establish characteristics of migration and distribution.

(g) Publish annual estimates of the population of the state and its composition.

(h) Prepare short- and long-range projections of population and its composition.

(i) Provide advisory services to state agencies and other levels of government.

(j) Evaluate and recommend data requirements for determining population and population growth.

(k) Analyze the demographic features of the causes and consequences of patterns of natural increase or decrease, migration, and population concentration within the state.

(l) Assess the need for population data required for determining the allocation of federal, state, and other subvention revenues.

(m) Request and obtain from any department, division, commission, or other agency of the state all assistance and information to enable the unit to effectively carry out the provisions of this section.

(n) Cooperate with the Office of Planning and Research with respect to functions involving mutual areas of concern relating to demography and state planning.

(o) Enter into agreements to carry out the purposes of this section, including the application for and acceptance of federal funds or private foundation grants for demographic studies.

(p) Act as primary state government liaison with the Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce, in the acquisition and distribution of census data and related documentation to state agencies.

(q) Administer, with other agencies, a State Census Data Center which will be responsible for acquiring decennial and other census data from the Bureau of the Census, and for providing necessary information to the Legislature and to the executive branch and for seeking to ensure the availability of census information to local governments. The unit and the Office of Planning and Research shall be responsible for designating subcenters of the State Census Data Center as needed. The unit will provide materials to subcenters of the State Census Data Center, will coordinate the efforts of the subcenters to avoid duplication and may consult in the design of standard reports to be offered by the center and its subcenters.

(r) Coordinate with the Office of Planning and Research Environmental Data Center for the purposes of ensuring consistency and compatibility of data products, improving public access to data, ensuring the consistent interpretation of data, and avoiding duplication of functions.

(s) (1) Determine those census tracts that are to be designated census tracts based on data from the five-year American Community Survey (ACS). The census tracts that are within the highest quartile for both civilian unemployment and poverty statistics, as determined in paragraphs (2) and (3), shall be determined to be designated census tracts as described in paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of Section 17053.73, and paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of § 23626 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To determine the census tracts that are within the highest quartile of census tracts with the highest civilian unemployment, the census tracts shall be sorted by the respective civilian unemployment rate of each in ascending order, or from the lowest (0 percent) to the highest (100 percent) according to the following:

(A) Census tracts without a civilian labor force shall be excluded.

(B) After ordering the census tracts by the civilian unemployment rate of each, the census tracts shall be divided into four equal groups or quartiles as follows:

(i) The first quartile shall represent the lowest fourth of the census tracts (the lowest 25 percent, inclusive).

(ii) The second quartile shall represent the second fourth (tracts greater than 25 percent up to 50 percent, inclusive).

(iii) The third quartile shall represent the third fourth (tracts greater than 50 percent up to 75 percent, inclusive).

(iv) The fourth quartile shall represent the fourth fourth (tracts greater than 75 percent up to 100 percent, inclusive).

(C) The last or highest quartile shall represent the top 25 percent of the census tracts with the highest civilian unemployment rates.

(3) To determine the census tracts that are within the quartile of census tracts with the highest poverty, the census tracts shall be sorted by the respective percentage of population below poverty of each in ascending order, or from the lowest (0 percent) to the highest (100 percent) according to the following:

(A) Consistent with poverty statistics in the ACS, which adhere to the standards specified by the federal Office of Management and Budget in Statistical Policy Directive 14, the poverty thresholds as specified by the United States Census Bureau shall be used to determine those individuals below poverty.

(B) To determine those individuals below poverty, different thresholds, as specified by the United States Census Bureau, shall be applied to families, people living alone, or people living with nonrelatives (unrelated individuals).

(C) If a family’s total income is less than the dollar value of the appropriate threshold, then that family and every individual in it shall be considered to be below poverty.

(D) If an unrelated individual’s total income is less than the appropriate threshold, then that individual shall be considered to be below poverty.

(E) Poverty status shall be determined for all people except institutionalized people, people in military group quarters, people in college dormitories, and unrelated individuals under 15 years of age.

(F) Census tracts that do not have a population for whom poverty status is determined shall be excluded.

(G) After ordering the census tracts by the respective percent below poverty of each, the census tracts shall be divided into four equal quartiles as follows:

(i) The first quartile shall represent the lowest fourth of the census tracts (the lowest 25 percent, inclusive).

(ii) The second quartile shall represent the second fourth (tracts greater than 25 percent up to 50 percent, inclusive).

(iii) The third quartile shall represent the third fourth (tracts greater than 50 percent up to 75 percent, inclusive).

(iv) The fourth quartile shall represent the fourth fourth (tracts greater than 75 percent up to 100 percent, inclusive).

(H) The last or highest quartile shall represent the top 25 percent of the census tracts with the highest percentage of population below poverty.

(t) (1) Determine those census tracts that are within the lowest quartile of census tracts with the lowest civilian unemployment and poverty based on data from the five-year ACS. The census tracts that are within the lowest quartile for both civilian unemployment and poverty statistics, as determined in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (s), shall be determined to be census tracts within the lowest quartile of census tracts with the lowest civilian unemployment and poverty, as applied in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (8) of subdivision (b) of Section 17053.73 and § 23626 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) Based on the quartiles developed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (s), the first or lowest quartile shall represent the bottom 25 percent of the census tracts with the lowest civilian unemployment rates.

(3) Based on the quartiles developed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (s), the first or lowest quartile shall represent the bottom 25 percent of the census tracts with the lowest percentage of population below poverty.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 29, Sec. 93. (SB 82) Effective June 27, 2019.)