Establishes the Native American and Other Historically Marginalized Groups Discrimination and Injustice Commission which shall complete a study and submit a report regarding discrimination and injustices historically and currently faced by indigenous people and other historically marginalized groups living within the state.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A8288
SPONSOR: Burke
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act establishing the Native American and Other Historically Marginal-
ized Groups Discrimination and Injustice Commission; and providing for
the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would establish the Native American and Other Historically
Marginalized GroUps Discrimination and Injustice Commission, which will
consist of eleven appointed and unpaid members that will conduct a study
on discrimination and injustices committed against Native Americans and
individuals of other historically marginalized groups before submitting
a report of their findings and recommendations regarding how to educate
the public about this history and propose legislative action to atone
for past discrimination and injustice.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes the Native American and Other Historically Margi-
nalized Groups Discrimination and Injustice Commission, stating that the
commission will compose of eleven members appointed by either the Gover-
nor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, or the Speaker of the Assem-
bly. This section also details the responsibilities of the Commission,
namely studying the history of discrimination and injustice towards
historically marginalized peoples of New York State, and states that the
commission shall recommend how 'best to ameliorate these injustices and
how best to educate the public about these injustices in a report to the
Governor and to the Legislature.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
N/A
 
JUSTIFICATION:
There has been a long history of injustice and discrimination against a
wide array of marginalized groups in New York State, with Native Ameri-
cans often facing the brunt of such injustice. This bill would create a
commission dedicated towards studying these past crimes against Native.
Americans alongside other historically marginalized groups who have been
targeted dude to their race, ethnicity, culture, or religion. This
commission would study the history of indigenous boarding schools, the
erasure of indigenous languages, the history of racial and ethnic quotas
at public accommodations, and the various crimes against humanity and
human rights violations committed against Native Americans or against
individuals of another historically marginalized group. Upon completion
of the study, the commission will report their findings to the legisla-
ture and the Governor, before recommending needed action to educate the
public about this history and to acknowledge and atone for these past
injustices.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
N/A
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Click here to enter text.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Click here to enter text.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8288
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
November 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BURKE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT establishing the Native American and Other Historically Marginal-
ized Groups Discrimination and Injustice Commission; and providing for
the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. (a) (i) There is hereby established the Native American and
2 Other Historically Marginalized Groups Discrimination and Injustice
3 Commission, which may be referred to in this act as the "commission".
4 (ii) For the purposes of this act, "historically marginalized groups"
5 shall refer to any racial, ethnic, cultural, or religious group which
6 has been historically marginalized within New York state.
7 (b) (i) The commission shall be composed of eleven members who shall
8 be appointed within ninety days after the effective date of this act, as
9 follows:
10 (A) five members shall be appointed by the governor; and
11 (B) three members each shall be appointed by the president pro tempore
12 of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.
13 (ii) Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
14 (iii) The commission shall elect a chair and vice-chair from among its
15 members. The term of office of each shall be for the life of the commis-
16 sion.
17 (iv) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
18 their service as members, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and
19 necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
20 (c) (i) The commission shall conduct a study on discrimination and
21 injustices historically and currently faced by Native American and other
22 historically marginalized people living within the state including, but
23 not limited to:
24 (A) indigenous boarding schools;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13350-02-3
A. 8288 2
1 (B) erasure of indigenous languages;
2 (C) racial and ethnic quotas in public accommodations; and
3 (D) crimes against humanity and human rights violations committed
4 against Native American or individuals of another historically marginal-
5 ized group.
6 (ii) Upon the completion of such study, the commission shall, no later
7 than two years after the effective date of this act:
8 (A) submit a report of the commission's findings to the legislature
9 and the governor.
10 (B) recommend appropriate ways to educate the public of the commis-
11 sion's findings.
12 (C) propose legislative action which can be taken to acknowledge and
13 atone for the discrimination and injustices historically and currently
14 faced by Native Americans and/or individuals of another historically
15 marginalized group living within the state.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
17 deemed repealed ninety days after the Native American and other Histor-
18 ically Marginalized Groups Discrimination and Injustice Commission
19 completes its requirements under paragraph (ii) of subdivision (c) of
20 section one of this act; provided that, the chair of the Native American
21 Discrimination and Injustice Commission shall notify the legislative
22 bill drafting commission upon the completion of such commission's
23 requirements under paragraph (ii) of subdivision (c) of section one of
24 this act in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and time-
25 ly effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of
26 New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of
27 the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.