STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4435
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FALL -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to establish the New York State Muslim American Advisory Council
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The New York State Muslim American Advisory Council. The
2 New York State Muslim American Advisory Council is hereby established.
3 For the purposes of this act, the term "council" shall mean the New York
4 State Muslim American Advisory Council established pursuant to this act.
5 The council shall advise the legislature on ways to advance the role and
6 civic participation of Muslim Americans in New York state. Additionally,
7 the council shall recommend strategies to better integrate Muslims in
8 New York state socially, educationally, culturally and economically. The
9 council shall facilitate relationship-building in the Muslim community
10 to achieve goals related to international commerce in Muslim
11 countries/communities, and identify ways to more effectively disseminate
12 information and outreach to Muslim Americans regarding state programs
13 and services. The council shall advise the legislature on appropriate
14 policy developments, official directives, and other issues of signif-
15 icance impacting New York state's Muslims. The council shall bring
16 important faith-based issues based on factual findings to the legisla-
17 ture's attention and make recommendations to address such issues. The
18 council shall also strengthen communication between the state and Muslim
19 leadership and the general community.
20 § 2. The council shall consist of ten members, as follows:
21 a. five members shall be representatives of community-based/faith-
22 based organizations that advise or assist Muslim American communities.
23 b. one member shall be appointed by the temporary president of the
24 senate.
25 c. one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
26 d. one member shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07856-02-5
A. 4435 2
1 e. one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assem-
2 bly.
3 f. one remaining member shall be appointed by the governor.
4 § 3. Each member of the council shall serve for a term of four years
5 or until such member's successor is appointed. A member appointed to
6 fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the term of the member such
7 member is appointed to succeed.
8 § 4. The members of the council shall receive no compensation for
9 their services but shall be reimbursed for their expenses actually and
10 necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
11 § 5. The council shall select a chair and a secretary from among the
12 members.
13 § 6. The council shall meet as frequently as necessary, but not less
14 than four times per year. Such meetings shall be held at such locations
15 as the council may determine. All such meetings shall be subject to the
16 open meetings law.
17 § 7. Each member of the council shall be entitled to designate in
18 writing a representative to attend meetings in such member's place and
19 to vote or otherwise act on such member's behalf in such member's
20 absence.
21 § 8. The council shall present strategies to the legislature to better
22 integrate Muslims in New York state socially, educationally, culturally
23 and economically in writing in the form of an annual report approximate-
24 ly sixteen months from the establishment of the council and annually
25 thereafter.
26 § 9. The report shall consist of factual findings, progress analyses,
27 and recommendations regarding the implementation of state programs and
28 services as it affects Muslim Americans.
29 § 10. This act shall take effect immediately.
