S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6866
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 13, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry
AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to establish-
ing the office for new Americans
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The economic development law is amended by adding a new
article 15 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 15
OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS
SECTION 265. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
266. OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEES.
267. OBJECTIVES.
268. POWERS AND DUTIES.
S 265. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. THE LEGISLATURE FINDS THAT SINCE THE
FOUNDING OF THIS STATE OUR PROSPERITY AND GREATNESS IS DUE IN LARGE PART
TO THE EFFORTS AND SACRIFICES OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. THE LEGISLA-
TURE FURTHER FINDS THAT NEW YORK HAS LONG BEEN A GATEWAY TO AMERICA FOR
VAST NUMBERS OF IMMIGRANTS, WHO HAVE COME TO THIS LAND SEEKING BOTH
FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THAT THE
ANCESTORS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FIRST ENTERED THIS NATION THROUGH NEW
YORK CITY, GIVING US A UNIQUE HISTORICAL HERITAGE. THE LEGISLATURE
FURTHER FINDS THAT NEW YORK REMAINS A MAJOR ENTRY POINT FOR IMMIGRANTS
TO THIS DAY. THE LEGISLATURE FURTHER FINDS THAT IT IS IN BOTH THE SHORT
AND LONG TERM INTEREST OF THE STATE THAT NEW IMMIGRANTS, ENTERING THIS
COUNTRY LEGALLY AND IN THE HOPE OF BUILDING A FUTURE, BE ASSISTED WITH
ACCESSING THE MANY HOMEOWNERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT
EXIST IN THE STATE, SO THAT THEY MAY BE HELPED TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN
DREAM AND IMPROVE THE PROSPERITY OF THE STATE AS A WHOLE. THE LEGISLA-
TURE FURTHER FINDS THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE
SUFFERED FROM LOSS OF POPULATION AND BUSINESSES OVER THE LAST FIFTY
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10217-01-9
A. 6866 2
YEARS, WHICH HAS LED TO LARGE NUMBERS OF VACANT HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN
THESE COMMUNITIES, AND THAT SUCH COMMUNITIES MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN
ATTRACTING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO HELP REVITALIZE DEPRESSED
AREAS AND BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.
S 266. OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEES. THERE IS HEREBY
CREATED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AN OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS. THE DIRECTOR
OF SUCH OFFICE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, SHALL REPORT DIRECTLY
TO THE COMMISSIONER ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DIVISION, AND SHALL HOLD
OFFICE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSIONER. IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS TO ASSIST THE GOVERNOR IN THE
FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LAWS AND POLICIES RELATING TO THE
INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES INTO THE ECONOMIC FABRIC OF THE
STATE. THE DIRECTOR SHALL RECEIVE AN ANNUAL SALARY TO BE FIXED BY THE
GOVERNOR WITHIN THE AMOUNT APPROPRIATED THEREFORE. THE DIRECTOR MAY
APPOINT SUCH OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, CONSULTANTS AND SPECIAL
COMMITTEES AS HE OR SHE MAY DEEM NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS ARTICLE AND PRESCRIBE THEIR DUTIES SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION.
S 267. OBJECTIVES. THE OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS IS CHARGED WITH
ASSISTING BOTH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH AN INTEREST IN ATTRACTING GROUPS
OF IMMIGRANTS, AND GROUPS OF IMMIGRANTS WHO MAY BE IN SEARCH OF SUCH
OPPORTUNITY. THIS ASSISTANCE SHOULD CONSIST PRIMARILY OF OUTREACH, COOR-
DINATION, INFORMATION, AND REFERRAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS PROVIDING LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WITH ADVICE ON THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFUL-
LY RECRUIT AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
S 268. POWERS AND DUTIES. (1) THE OFFICE WILL COORDINATE AS APPROPRI-
ATE WITH ALL STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE OFFICE OF
SMALL CITIES, THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL, THE GOVER-
NOR'S OFFICE OF REGULATORY REFORM, AND ALL OTHER AGENCIES AS MAY BE
APPROPRIATE IN FORWARDING THIS OBJECTIVE. THE OFFICE MAY ALSO WORK IN
COOPERATION WITH ANY SUCH NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE OFFICE
BELIEVES WILL HELP FURTHER ITS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
(2) THE OFFICE SHALL BE STRICTLY LIMITED TO OFFERING ITS ASSISTANCE TO
COMMUNITIES OF NATURALIZED UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND/OR LEGALLY DOCU-
MENTED RESIDENT ALIENS AS DEFINED BY THE UNITED STATES DIVISION OF IMMI-
GRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE).
(3) THE OFFICE SHALL BE LIMITED TO ASSISTING BOTH LOCALITIES AND IMMI-
GRANT GROUPS WITH ACCESSING EXISTING PROGRAMS OF ASSISTANCE THAT WILL
PROMOTE THE BUILDING OF VIBRANT, INDEPENDENT, AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES,
WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PROMOTING HOME OWNERSHIP AND BUSINESS CREATION. THE
OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS IS ALSO AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, AND TO PROMOTE
AWARENESS OF AND ACCESS TO EXISTING STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL
ADVANCE THOSE PURPOSES.
(4-A) THE OFFICE SHALL SOLICIT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT AGENCIES FOR PROMOTING THE
OBJECTIVES OF THIS ARTICLE, AND REFER SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVER-
NOR, THE LEGISLATURE AND APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCIES OR AUTHORITIES.
(4-B) THE OFFICE SHALL CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS, RESEARCH, STUDIES AND
ANALYSES OF MATTERS AFFECTING THE INTERESTS OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
WITHIN THE STATE CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS ARTI-
CLE.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.