S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8406
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
December 13, 2023
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Introduced by M. of A. FORREST -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Economic Development
AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to establish-
ing an immigrant integration advisory board for each economic develop-
ment region
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
section 233 to read as follows:
§ 233. IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION ADVISORY BOARDS ESTABLISHED. 1. EACH
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SHALL ESTABLISH AN IMMIGRANT INTE-
GRATION ADVISORY BOARD.
2. (A) EACH BOARD SHALL BE COMPRISED OF NINE MEMBERS, TO BE APPOINTED
BY EACH REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
(B) EACH BOARD SHALL INCLUDE ONE CHAIR AND ONE CO-CHAIR, TO BE
APPOINTED BY THE CHAIR OF EACH REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
(C) ALL MEMBERS APPOINTED TO EACH BOARD SHALL BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES WITHIN EACH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGION.
(D) ALL MEMBERS OF EACH BOARD SHALL BE APPOINTED WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
3. VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE FILLED IN
THE SAME MANNER PROVIDED FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.
4. EACH BOARD SHALL MEET NO LESS THAN FOUR TIMES PER YEAR.
5. EACH BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWERS AND DUTIES TO:
(A) ADVISE EACH REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL REGARDING IMMI-
GRANT INTEGRATION IN THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGION AND THE DEVELOP-
MENT OF POLICIES DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY
IN SUCH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGION.
(B) (I) SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE CHAIR OF EACH REGIONAL ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL NO LATER THAN SIXTY DAYS PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE FOR
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13540-01-3
A. 8406 2
EACH REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR FUND-
ING FROM THE STATE.
(II) SUCH REPORT SHALL DETAIL THE ACTIONS OF THE BOARD AND ANY RECOM-
MENDATIONS OF THE BOARD TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF CONCERN AND IMPORTANCE TO
THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGION.
(III) SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL INCLUDE HOW THE WORK OF AND FUNDING
FOR EACH REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL CAN BETTER SUPPORT THE
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITIONS, WORKFORCE DEVEL-
OPMENT, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASSISTANCE FOR IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES WITHIN EACH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGION.
(IV) SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL BE SHARED BY THE CHAIR OF EACH
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WITH ALL MEMBERS OF SUCH REGIONAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND SHALL BE INCLUDED IN EACH ANNUAL
REPORT OF EACH REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
6. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION" SHALL
MEAN POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP TO ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC,
SOCIAL, AND CIVIC INTEGRATION OF FOREIGN-BORN NEW YORKERS.
7. BOARD MEMBERS SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, BUT
SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE
PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
8. TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE BOARD MAY REQUEST
FROM ANY DEPARTMENT, BOARD, BUREAU, COMMISSION OR OTHER AGENCY OF THE
STATE, AND THE SAME ARE AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE, SUCH COOPERATION AND
ASSISTANCE, SERVICES AND DATA AS WILL ENABLE THE BOARD TO PROPERLY CARRY
OUT ITS FUNCTIONS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the forty-fifth day after it shall
have become a law.