Study of Ethnic Affairs Office sought

A Provo lawmaker is calling into question the role the Utah Office of Ethnic Affairs plays in influencing state policy.

Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, has requested an interim study of the office's influence, largely when it comes to bills impacting illegal immigration.

"My question is, is taxpayer money going to defeat our bills, and is that the role of the department?" said Herrod, who sponsored a failed bill to repeal in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants and prohibit them from accessing public services that aren't federally mandated. The bill received a House committee's approval late in the session but ran out of time for a hearing on the House floor.

Herrod's complaint about the office is "just paranoid," said Tony Yapias, a former director of Hispanic Affairs, one of four offices under Ethnic Affairs. Yapias is among some leaders in the minority community who have criticized the office for not being activist enough under the administration of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

"They provide information sheets, fact sheets," Yapias said. "If that's what they call activism, give me a break."

Palmer DePaulis, executive director of the Department of Community and Culture, which oversees Ethnic Affairs, said he's looking at the study as "an opportunity to engage a discussion" and review the office's role.

"We want to be be sure we're appropriate," he said. "We also need to be sure we're meeting the mission of the community we serve. We need to review everything to ensure it's well done and include legislators in the conversation."

DePaulis said as a state agency it makes sense to advocate "for our own bills" that could impact budgeting or its ability to carry out the mission, and to provide information on other bills.

"I don't think we should be in the position to be advocating one way or the other unless it's our bill," he said.

Luz Robles, director of Ethnic Affairs, said her office provides lawmakers with information on bills that influence the state's ethnic communities, including the undocumented, without advocating for or against them. The office also provides the public with information on those bills on its Web site, www.ethnicoffice.utah.gov. This year the office tracked 17 bills.

"I don't think people understand what we do," she said. "Hopefully (the study) will help them better understand our role."