S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3716
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 7, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GONZALEZ-ROJAS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education
AN ACT to establish a commission for the educational advancement of
multilingual learners in New York; 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. Commission established. (a) A commission, to be known as
the commission for the educational advancement of multilingual learners,
hereafter referred to as "the commission", is hereby established to
study and provide a report on the best practices and legislative recom-
mendations to close the achievement gap and high school graduation rates
between multilingual learners and their English proficient peers from
prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Such report will advise the
legislature, the governor, the board of regents, and New York state
education officials on the best practices and legislative recommenda-
tions to close the achievement gap, and the feasibility and cost to
implement such practices in schools.
(b) The commission shall be composed of nine members, appointed as
follows: (i) two members shall be appointed by the governor; (ii) two
members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; (iii) two
members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
(iv) two members shall be appointed by the commissioner of the New York
state department of education; and (v) one member shall be the chancel-
lor of the board of regents or appointed thereof. The commission shall
be chaired by a person chosen by a majority vote at the first meeting of
the commission. The vice-chairperson of the commission shall be
appointed by the chairperson. Vacancies in the membership of the commis-
sion shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments.
(c) The commission shall be made up of at least: (i) one education
professional who specializes in English to Speakers of Other Languages
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07786-01-3
A. 3716 2
and Bilingual Programs; (ii) one teacher who has experience working with
multilingual students; (iii) one education professional who has experi-
ence working with early childhood multilingual learners; (iv) one educa-
tion professional who has experience with multilingual newcomers and
high school graduation; and (v) one education professional who has
expertise in education equity of New York state students.
(d) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
(e) The commission shall commence no later than 30 days after this act
shall become a law.
§ 2. Appointments to commission. The legislative leaders, the gover-
nor, the chancellor of the board of regents, and the commissioner of
education shall submit their appointments to the board of regents, and
the board of regents shall make such appointments, no later than 30 days
after this act shall become a law.
§ 3. Commission staff and agency liaison. (a) The commissioner of
education shall designate such employees of the department of education
as are reasonably necessary to provide support services to the commis-
sion. The commissioner of education shall appoint one or more represen-
tatives of the department of education to serve as liaison between such
department and the commission.
(b) All state agencies, public authorities, public benefit corpo-
rations and any public school district in New York state shall provide
such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the chair of the
commission.
(c) The commission, acting by the chair of the commission, may employ
additional staff and consultants, who shall be paid from amounts avail-
able to the commission for such purposes.
§ 4. Accomplishment of purpose. The commission shall be authorized and
empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses it
may deem relevant. The commission shall meet and hold public hearings or
private meetings within or outside the state, and shall have all the
powers of a legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law.
§ 5. Report on best practices and legislative recommendations. The
commission shall make a report of its findings, including any recommen-
dations for legislative action as it may deem necessary and appropriate,
to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of
the assembly, the chairperson of the senate committee on education, the
chairperson of the senate committee on New York City education, the
chairperson of the assembly committee on education, the board of
regents, and the commissioner of education no later than December 31,
2023.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed 2 years after such date.