Requires towns having a population of five hundred thousand persons or more to develop and implement a communications strategy to promote summer jobs, job fairs, workforce development training centers and information about civil service testing to town residents and to conduct an annual dialogue on race, equity and inclusion; requires the Town of Hempstead to track data over time and publish a report and to conduct DEI training.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A763
SPONSOR: Solages TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to requiring the towns having a population of five
hundred thousand persons or more to promote jobs and conduct an equity
audit
PURPOSE:
To enhance economic opportunities, promote racial equity, and foster
inclusion by requiring towns with populations exceeding 500,000 to
develop communications strategies, conduct equity audits, and implement
related initiatives.
SUMMARY:
Section 1. Requires the Town of Hempstead to conduct an audit on equity
and hold annual dialogue on race, equity, and inclusion in the town.
Section 2. Sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Towns with populations 500,000 and greater serve large, diverse communi-
ties, often including areas that suffer from significant economic and
racial disparities. This legislation addresses these disparities by
promoting job opportunities, fostering inclusive dialogue, and imple-
menting data-driven equity audits to inform policy decisions.
The emphasis on annual reporting ensures accountability and transparen-
cy, while employee training equips municipal staff to engage effectively
with diverse populations. Furthermore, by focusing on workforce develop-
ment and townwide communications, the bill enhances opportunities for
historically marginalized communities and encourages participation in
civil service and workforce programs.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
This legislation directly addresses structural inequities by prioritiz-
ing initiatives in communities facing disproportionate economic and
social challenges. The emphasis on data tracking and public reporting
ensures that progress toward equity goals can be measured and sustained
over time.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
763
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Local Governments
AN ACT in relation to requiring the towns having a population of five
hundred thousand persons or more to promote jobs and conduct an equity
audit
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. (a) Towns having a population of five hundred thousand
2 persons or more shall develop and implement a communications strategy to
3 promote summer jobs, job fairs, workforce development training centers
4 and information about civil service testing to town residents. The
5 communications strategy will be implemented townwide with an emphasis on
6 communities with the following characteristics: minority and majority
7 wards, low income and disproportionate crime rates and vacant buildings.
8 (b) Such town shall host an annual dialogue on race, equity and inclu-
9 sion for the town community.
10 (c) Such town, in partnership with its departments, shall track data
11 over time and publish a report on an annual basis on key metrics,
12 including but not limited to built environment enhancements; park main-
13 tenance, violence prevention, workforce training employment; and town
14 employment demographics. A report will be delivered to the town board on
15 an annual basis, no later than December 21st of each year.
16 (d) Such towns will ensure that all town employees receive annual
17 training on racial equity, diversity and inclusion.
18 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00353-01-5
