Relates to establishing a legislative committee on racial equity in the New York state senate to review and prepare a racial equity impact statement for all legislation that is reported favorably to the senate.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8703
IN SENATE
May 10, 2018
___________
Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
ment Operations
AN ACT relating to establishing a legislative committee on racial equity
in the New York state senate
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. a. There is hereby created the legislative committee on
2 racial equity in the New York state senate. The committee shall provide
3 a racial equity impact assessment on all legislation that is reported
4 favorably to the senate. The committee shall solicit input from members
5 of the public, especially those individuals with expertise related to
6 racial equity issues, to aid the committee in its work.
7 b. The committee shall consist of the senate majority leader, senate
8 minority leader, and ten members appointed by the temporary president of
9 the senate who are representative of the racial diversity that exists in
10 New York state. Any vacancies occurring among the members of the commit-
11 tee shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment.
12 c. The committee shall (1) prepare a racial equity impact assessment
13 on all legislation that is reported favorably to the senate to minimize
14 unanticipated adverse consequences by utilizing resources that have a:
15 (i) history of expertise and positive outcomes in racial equity; and
16 (ii) a deep understanding of ameliorating disproportionate outcomes and
17 unintended costs; (2) hold a hearing on any matter relating to the func-
18 tions of the committee; (3) identify state policies and actions that, in
19 conjunction with public and private partners and in support of racial
20 equity, can work to achieve conditions of such; (4) review and make
21 recommendations to align state statutes, regulations, programs, services
22 and budgetary priorities; (5) search for any interdepartmental gaps,
23 inconsistencies and inefficiencies in the implementation or attainment
24 of the state policies and actions; (6) identify any new laws, regu-
25 lations, programs, services, and budgetary priorities that are needed to
26 ensure and promote desired conditions of racial equity; (7) serve as an
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15691-01-8
S. 8703 2
1 informational resource for the senate; and (8) perform other activities,
2 including public awareness.
3 d. The committee shall have the same powers as other standing or
4 select committees of the legislature.
5 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.