STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6454
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 1, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. STEVENSON, GIBSON, ROSENTHAL, CRESPO, RAIA,
CASTRO, WEPRIN, PERRY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO, AUBRY,
COOK, MALLIOTAKIS, SCARBOROUGH, SCHIMEL -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT in relation to establishing the New York 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 Muslim American Advisory Council. The New York State
2 Muslim American Advisory Council is hereby established. It will advise
3 the legislature on ways to advance the role and civic participation of
4 Muslim Americans in New York. Additionally, the Muslim American Advisory
5 Council (hereinafter referred to as the "Council") shall recommend stra-
6 tegies to better integrate Muslims in New York socially, educationally,
7 culturally and economically. The Council shall facilitate relationship-
8 building in the Muslim community to achieve goals related to interna-
9 tional commerce in Muslim countries/communities, and identify ways to
10 more effectively disseminate information and outreach to Muslim Ameri-
11 cans regarding state programs and services. The Council shall advise the
12 legislature on appropriate policy developments, official directives, and
13 other issues of significance impacting New York's Muslims. It will bring
14 important faith-based issues based on factual findings to the legisla-
15 ture's attention and make recommendations to address those issues. It
16 will also strengthen communication between the state and Muslim leader-
17 ship and the general community.
18 § 2. The Council shall consist of ten members, as follows:
19 a. five members shall be representatives of community-based/faith-
20 based organizations that advise or assist Muslim American communities.
21 b. one member shall be appointed by the temporary president of the
22 senate.
23 c. one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02715-01-3
A. 6454 2
1 d. one member shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
2 e. one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assem-
3 bly.
4 f. one remaining member shall be appointed by the governor.
5 § 3. Each member of the Council shall serve for a term of four years
6 or until his or her successor is appointed. A member appointed to fill
7 a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the term of the member he or she
8 is appointed to succeed.
9 § 4. The members of the Council shall receive no compensation for
10 their services but shall be reimbursed for their expenses actually and
11 necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
12 § 5. The Council shall select a chair and a secretary from among the
13 members.
14 § 6. The Council shall meet as frequently as necessary, but not less
15 than four times per year. Such meetings shall be held at such locations
16 as the Council may determine. All such meetings shall be subject to the
17 open meetings law.
18 § 7. Each member of the Council shall be entitled to designate in
19 writing a representative to attend meetings in his or her place and to
20 vote or otherwise act on his or her behalf in his or her absence.
21 § 8. The Council will present strategies to the legislature to better
22 integrate Muslims in New York socially, educationally, culturally and
23 economically in writing in the form of an annual report approximately
24 sixteen months from the establishment of the Council and annually there-
25 after.
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.
