Senate Bill S1359

Vetoed By Governor
2023-2024 Legislative Session

Establishes the office of racial equity and social justice

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Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Vetoed by Governor


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Vetoed By Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2023-S1359 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A4187
Law Section:
Executive Law
Laws Affected:
Add Art 15-D §§328-e - 328-h, Exec L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2019-2020: S8209, A10319
2021-2022: S3468, A2358

2023-S1359 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the office of racial equity and social justice to act as the official state planning and coordinating office for changes in policy, practice and allocation of state resources so that race or social justice constructs do not predict an individual's success, while also improving opportunities and outcomes for all people, and performing all necessary and appropriate services required to fulfill these duties.

2023-S1359 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S1359 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1359
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 11, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
   office of racial equity and social justice
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new  article  15-D
 to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 15-D
                OFFICE OF RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
 
 SECTION 328-E. DEFINITIONS.
         328-F. OFFICE  OF  RACIAL  EQUITY  AND SOCIAL JUSTICE; DIRECTOR,
                  ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES.
         328-G. FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE.
         328-H. REPORTING.
   § 328-E. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS  ARTICLE,  THE  FOLLOWING  TERMS
 SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   1. "OFFICE" MEANS THE OFFICE OF RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
   2.  "DIRECTOR"  MEANS  THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF RACIAL EQUITY AND
 SOCIAL JUSTICE.
   3.  "EQUITY" MEANS FAIR AND JUST OPPORTUNITIES AND  OUTCOMES  FOR  ALL
 INDIVIDUALS.
   4.  "SOCIAL  JUSTICE"  MEANS EVERY INDIVIDUAL DESERVES TO BENEFIT FROM
 THE SAME ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL RIGHTS AND  OPPORTUNITIES,  FREE
 FROM  HEALTH DISPARITIES, REGARDLESS OF RACE; SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS; AGE;
 SEX, INCLUDING ON THE BASIS OF GENDER IDENTITY OR ORIENTATION; RELIGION;
 DISABILITY; OR OTHER CHARACTERISTICS.
   5. "RACE" MEANS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT THAT  ARTIFICIALLY  DIVIDES  PEOPLE
 INTO  DISTINCT  GROUPS BASED ON CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS PHYSICAL APPEAR-
 ANCE,  INCLUDING  COLOR;  ANCESTRAL  HERITAGE;   CULTURAL   AFFILIATION;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03131-01-3
              

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