NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3776
SPONSOR: Burke TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to establishing the New York Ireland trade commission
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would establish the New York-Ireland Trade Commission with the
goal of advancing bilateral trade, investment and business between New
York State and Ireland.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 states that the department of state shall establish the New
York Ireland trade commission, the members of which shall be appointed
by the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly,
and the governor, and must include at least one member of a higher
educational institution, at least one member from a chamber of commerce,
and at least two public members representing Irish-American communities,
neither of whom shall be members of the same political party. The
appointees shall be unpaid and shall meet and hold hearings at places
the commission shall designate. Section 2 grants the governor the
authority to designate chairs and co-chairs among the commission's
members. Section 3 states that the purpose of the commission shall be to
advance trade, investment, business, and commerce between New York and
Ireland, and to initiate joint action between New York and Ireland when
applicable. The commission shall report its findings to the governor and
the legislature within one year of its first meeting, and then submit
annual findings every year following.
JUSTIFICATION:
New York and Ireland share a unique and enduring bond, with many New
Yorkers tracing their ancestry to Irish immigrants who fled British
persecution and famine. Preserving and strengthening this relationship
is vital, particularly through bilateral trade. This bill proposes the
establishment of a New York-Ireland Trade Commission, dedicated to
fostering communication and promoting commerce between our two regions,
ensuring this special connection continues to thrive.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
12/13/23 referred to governmental operations
01/03/24 referred to governmental operations
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
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3776
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BURKE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT in relation to establishing the New York Ireland trade commission
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. 1. a. There is established in the department of state the
2 New York Ireland trade commission, as referred to in this section as
3 "the commission".
4 b. The commission shall consist of fifteen members, to be appointed as
5 follows:
6 (1) Two members of the senate shall be appointed by the temporary
7 president of the senate, neither of whom shall be members of the same
8 political party, who shall serve during the two-year legislative term in
9 which the appointments are made;
10 (2) Two members of the assembly shall be appointed by the speaker of
11 the assembly, neither of whom shall be members of the same political
12 party, who shall serve during the two-year legislative term in which the
13 appointments are made; and
14 (3) Eleven members of the commission shall be appointed by the gover-
15 nor, six of whom shall serve for a term of three years and five of whom
16 shall serve for a term of four years, which shall include at least one
17 representative from:
18 (A) an institution of higher education;
19 (B) a chamber of commerce; and
20 (C) at least two public members representing Irish American communi-
21 ties, neither of whom shall be members of the same political party.
22 c. All appointments shall be made no later than ninety days after this
23 act becomes a law. A vacancy in the membership of the commission shall
24 be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made no
25 later than ninety days after such vacancy occurs.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08063-01-5
A. 3776 2
1 d. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
2 their services as members, but shall be allowed their actual and neces-
3 sary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Members of
4 the commission shall be considered public officers for purposes of
5 section 17 of the public officers law.
6 e. The commission shall meet and hold hearings at the places it desig-
7 nates throughout the state.
8 2. The governor shall designate a chair or co-chairs from among the
9 members of the commission, who shall serve in that capacity at the plea-
10 sure of the governor. The chairperson or co-chairpersons, as appropri-
11 ate, may appoint from among the commission members subcommittees and
12 subcommittee chairpersons at their discretion. A quorum shall consist of
13 a majority of the members of the commission entitled to vote on the
14 matter under consideration. Approval of any matter shall require the
15 affirmative vote of a majority of the members voting thereon.
16 3. a. The purpose of the commission shall be to:
17 (1) advance bilateral trade and investment between New York and
18 Ireland;
19 (2) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to New
20 York and Ireland;
21 (3) promote business and academic exchanges between New York and
22 Ireland;
23 (4) encourage mutual economic support between New York and Ireland;
24 (5) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of New York and
25 Ireland; and
26 (6) address such other issues as determined by the commission.
27 b. The commission shall report its findings, results, and recommenda-
28 tions to the governor, and the legislature, within one year of its
29 initial organizational meeting and by the first of February of each
30 succeeding year for the activities of the preceding calendar year. The
31 report shall be in writing and include recommendations as deemed appro-
32 priate by the commission to effectuate its purpose, as provided by this
33 section.
34 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
