NY State Senate Bill 2021-S5931

Senate Bill S5931

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Relates to requiring a digital equity officer be appointed by the director of the office of information technology services

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Internet And Technology Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to internet and technology
Mar 23, 2021	referred to internet and technology

2021-S5931 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Internet And Technology
Law Section:: State Technology Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §102, St Tech L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S9095
2023-2024: S4846

2021-S5931 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to requiring a digital equity officer be appointed by the director of the office of information technology services to develop, oversee and assist in providing statewide broadband access.

2021-S5931 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S5931

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the state technology law, in relation to requiring a
digital equity officer be appointed by the director of the office of
information technology services

 
PURPOSE OF BILL:

To establish a Digital Equity Officer position.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

The Digital Equity Officer position will oversee and assist in providing
statewide broadband access to rural and residential areas, public
schools in coordination with the Department of Education, and small and
medium businesses. The Digital Equity Officer shall also coordinate with
the Department of Education to oversee and assist with providing comput-
ers, laptops, or tablets to residences with students enrolled in public

schools.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The current digital divide, made more pronounced due to the COVID-19
pandemic, has proven that it is necessary to close the digital gap.  The
lasting effects of the pandemic will continue to be felt for a long time
and having an established position created to oversee and assist with
broadband access and to provide computers, laptops, or tablets to
students will allow every student to maintain progress with their
academic achievements. Additionally, providing broadband access to rural
and residential areas, as well as small and medium business, will
provide well-needed services to remote areas in New York State and allow
companies to keep their employees working, provide employees with the
ability to work from home to maintain health and safety and keep our
economy moving.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: S9095- Referred to Rules

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2021-S5931 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5931
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 23, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Internet and Technology
 
 AN ACT to amend the state technology law, in  relation  to  requiring  a
   digital  equity  officer be appointed by the director of the office of
   information technology services

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision 5 of section 102 of the state technology law,
 as added by chapter 430 of the laws of 1997 and as renumbered by chapter
 437 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
   5. (A) THE DIRECTOR  SHALL  APPOINT,  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE  CIVIL
 SERVICE  LAW,  A  DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICER, WHO SHALL DEVELOP, OVERSEE AND
 ASSIST IN PROVIDING STATEWIDE BROADBAND ACCESS TO RURAL AND  RESIDENTIAL
 AREAS,  PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
 AND SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES.
   (B) THE DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICER SHALL, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPART-
 MENT OF EDUCATION, OVERSEE AND ASSIST IN PROVIDING A  COMPUTER,  LAPTOP,
 OR  TABLET  TO  A  STUDENT ENROLLED IN ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE IF
 SUCH STUDENT WOULD QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED MEALS  AS  DETERMINED  BY
 THE LOCAL AGENCY.
   6. The director may request and receive from any department, division,
 board,  bureau, commission or other agency of the state or any political
 subdivision thereof or any public authority, staff and other assistance,
 information, and resources as will enable the office to  properly  carry
 out its functions, powers and duties.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10301-01-1

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