1. The Secretary of State is authorized to establish a nonprofit organization to be known as the Asian American Study Foundation. The foundation shall be devoted to developing and coordinating Statewide programs recognizing the continuing contributions of Asian Americans in New Jersey. It shall draw upon its members’ shared knowledge and expertise in creating programs and activities designed to better educate all citizens of New Jersey as to Asian American issues and culture and to promote the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by celebrating the religious, ethnic and racial diversity within this State. The foundation shall develop policies to improve the community, economic, social well-being, health and educational needs important to Asian Americans in New Jersey and increase awareness among Asian Americans as to governmental affairs and community and social service resources that may benefit Asian American individuals and communities as a whole. It shall also make recommendations for local, county and Statewide actions to follow up the foundation’s recommendations and consider such other matters relating to the institutions and legacies of Asian Americans in New Jersey as the members of the foundation may deem appropriate.

The foundation shall be incorporated as a New Jersey nonprofit corporation pursuant to P.L.1983, c.127 (C. 15A:1-1 et seq.), and organized and operated in such manner as to be eligible under applicable federal law for tax-exempt status and for the receipt of tax-deductible contributions, and shall be authorized to sue and to be sued as a legal entity separate from the State of New Jersey.

L.2005, c.371, s.1.