STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8406
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
December 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FORREST -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Economic Development
AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to establish-
ing an immigrant integration advisory board for each economic develop-
ment region
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The economic development law is amended by adding a new
2 section 233 to read as follows:
3 § 233. Immigrant integration advisory boards established. 1. Each
4 regional economic development council shall establish an immigrant inte-
5 gration advisory board.
6 2. (a) Each board shall be comprised of nine members, to be appointed
7 by each regional economic development council.
8 (b) Each board shall include one chair and one co-chair, to be
9 appointed by the chair of each regional economic development council.
10 (c) All members appointed to each board shall be representative of the
11 immigrant communities within each economic development region.
12 (d) All members of each board shall be appointed within ninety days of
13 the effective date of this section.
14 3. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in
15 the same manner provided for original appointments.
16 4. Each board shall meet no less than four times per year.
17 5. Each board shall have the powers and duties to:
18 (a) Advise each regional economic development council regarding immi-
19 grant integration in that economic development region and the develop-
20 ment of policies designed to meet the needs of the immigrant community
21 in such economic development region.
22 (b) (i) Submit an annual report to the chair of each regional economic
23 development council no later than sixty days prior to the deadline for
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13540-01-3
A. 8406 2
1 each regional economic development council to submit requests for fund-
2 ing from the state.
3 (ii) Such report shall detail the actions of the board and any recom-
4 mendations of the board to address issues of concern and importance to
5 the immigrant community in that economic development region.
6 (iii) Such recommendations shall include how the work of and funding
7 for each regional economic development council can better support the
8 educational attainment, English language acquisitions, workforce devel-
9 opment, job opportunities, and entrepreneurship assistance for immigrant
10 communities within each economic development region.
11 (iv) Such recommendations shall be shared by the chair of each
12 regional economic development council with all members of such regional
13 economic development council, and shall be included in each annual
14 report of each regional economic development council.
15 6. For the purposes of this section, "immigrant integration" shall
16 mean policies and programs that will help to advance the economic,
17 social, and civic integration of foreign-born New Yorkers.
18 7. Board members shall receive no compensation for their services, but
19 shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
20 performance of their duties.
21 8. To effectuate the purposes of this section, the board may request
22 from any department, board, bureau, commission or other agency of the
23 state, and the same are authorized to provide, such cooperation and
24 assistance, services and data as will enable the board to properly carry
25 out its functions pursuant to this section.
26 § 2. This act shall take effect on the forty-fifth day after it shall
27 have become a law.
