The New York State Senate

                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 7192--A

                       2017-2018 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             April 12, 2017
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. RICHARDSON, SEPULVEDA -- read once and referred
  to the Committee on Education -- committee discharged,  bill  amended,
  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN  ACT  relating  to  establishing  the  commission on African American
  history and achievement

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The commission on African American history and achievement;
established.  1. The commission on African American history and achieve-
ment (commission) is hereby  created  and  established.  The  commission
shall  consist of thirteen members, including the commissioner of educa-
tion, or his or her designee, the chancellor of New York  city  schools,
or  his  or  her designee, the chancellor of the state university of New
York, or his or her  designee,  and  the  chancellor  of  the  board  of
regents,  or  his or her designee, three members appointed by the gover-
nor, three members appointed by the temporary president of  the  senate,
and  three  members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.  Appointed
members shall include but not be limited  to  teachers,  including  K-12
educators,  historians,  and those with a background in African American
history, arts, or culture.
  2. Each member shall serve for a term of  three  years  and  shall  be
eligible for reappointment. A vacancy occurring other than by expiration
of  term  shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment
for the unexpired term.
  3. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation  but
shall  be  entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred
in the performance of their duties.
  4. The commissioner of education, or his or her designee, shall  serve
as  the chair and the chancellor of New York city schools, or his or her
designee, shall serve as the vice-chair of the commission. The  presence

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10730-04-7

A. 7192--A                          2

of  a  majority  of the authorized membership of the commission shall be
required for the conduct of official business.
  5.  The department of education shall provide technical assistance and
data to the commission as may be necessary for the commission  to  carry
out its responsibilities pursuant to this act.
  §  2. Duties and responsibilities. The commission shall be tasked with
developing and recommending curriculum that  incorporates  the  contrib-
utions  and achievements made by African Americans as part of New York's
education curriculum, including but not limited to  the  women's  aboli-
tionist movement, the Harlem Renaissance, the Buffalo anti-slavery move-
ment, and the suffrage movement for African American Long Islanders.  In
furtherance of this goal, the commission shall have the following duties
and responsibilities:
  1.  To  survey  and  review current elementary and secondary education
curriculum as it relates to contributions and  achievements  of  African
Americans throughout American and state history;
  2. To develop recommendations on additional curriculum and instruction
for  grades  kindergarten  through  twelve that incorporate the contrib-
utions and achievements made by African  Americans  throughout  American
and New York state history; and
  3.  Prepare  reports  for  the  governor and legislature regarding its
findings and recommendations on  current  curriculum  and  incorporating
additional  instruction  on  the  contributions and achievements made by
African Americans throughout American and New York state history.
  § 3. The commission shall submit an annual report, beginning August 1,
2018, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speak-
er of the assembly, the chair of the senate education committee, and the
chair of the assembly education committee on its findings and  recommen-
dations.
  § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.