S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7429
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             October 12, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  GOUNARDES,  MAY,  RYAN  -- read twice and ordered
   printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT directing the commissioner of labor to  conduct  a  comprehensive
   study  on  immigrant  and refugee participation in adult education and
   the workforce; and providing for the repeal of  such  provisions  upon
   expiration thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. 1. The commissioner of  labor,  in  consultation  with  the
 commissioner  of  the office of temporary and disability assistance, the
 commissioner of education, and the New York state office for new  Ameri-
 cans  (hereinafter  referred  to  as "the commissioners") in conjunction
 with any other department, division, board, bureau, commission,  agency,
 or  public  authority  of the state or any political subdivision thereof
 deemed necessary by the commissioners,  shall  conduct  a  comprehensive
 study  and  prepare  a  report on immigrant and refugee participation in
 adult education and the workforce.   The data collected  shall  only  be
 utilized as authorized under state and federal law to inform the state's
 efforts to advance economic stability and integration for immigrants and
 refugees. The state shall never use or share the data solely for the use
 of civil immigration enforcement.
   2. The study shall:
   (a)  identify any barriers that refugees and immigrants face to enter-
 ing the workforce, including but  not  limited  to  licensing,  language
 access, and transportation;
   (b)  assess  participation by and obstacles to refugees and immigrants
 in adult education and workforce training programs;
   (c) compare, to the extent  practicable,  the  current  employment  of
 refugees  and immigrants to that of their employment prior to resettling
 in the  United  States,  including  any  occupational  and  professional
 licenses, certifications, credentials and academic degrees earned;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD13081-02-1

 S. 7429                             2
 
   (d)  identify the top occupations that refugees and immigrants seek to
 work in and any barriers that prevent them from  using  work  experience
 and  education  gained outside of the United States to obtain employment
 in such occupations; and
   (e)  identify  any other issues the commissioners deem relevant to the
 purposes of this act.
   3. In  conducting  such  study  and  developing  recommendations,  the
 commissioners  shall seek the input of relevant governmental and non-go-
 vernmental stakeholders from across the state,  including  refugees  and
 immigrants.
   4.  Not  later than one year after the effective date of this act, the
 commissioners shall prepare and submit to the  governor,  the  temporary
 president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly a report of the
 study's  findings, together with specific recommendations for minimizing
 existing barriers and maximizing opportunities for  refugees  and  immi-
 grants  to  gain access to education and enter the workforce in New York
 State.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
 deemed repealed 2 years after it shall have become a law.