S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  2223

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 15, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. PEOPLES, AUBRY, CAMARA, WRIGHT, CUSICK, JEFFRIES,
  SCARBOROUGH,  BROOK-KRASNY,  BOYLAND,  GREENE, COOK, ROBINSON, ALFANO,
  CLARK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of  A.  BENJAMIN,  BRENNAN,  CAHILL,
  DelMONTE,   DIAZ,   GALEF,  HEASTIE,  JAFFEE,  JOHN,  MAISEL,  REILLY,
  J. RIVERA, SWEENEY, TITONE -- read once and referred to the  Committee
  on Governmental Operations

AN  ACT  to  establish a task force on the condition of African American
  men in New York state

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative  intent.  The  legislature finds that African
American men: (a) are disproportionately less likely  to  complete  high
school  and to obtain a post-secondary education; (b) are more likely to
be incarcerated or on parole; (c) are more likely to have lower lifetime
economic earnings; (d) are more likely to have been a part of the  child
welfare population; (e) are more likely to have a shorter life expectan-
cy;  and  (f) are more likely to have health problems, such as HIV/AIDS,
drug dependency, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.  The  legislature
additionally  finds that the state of New York has a compelling interest
in determining the causes of these problems and in developing  appropri-
ate remedies.
  S  2. The New York state task force on the condition of African Ameri-
can men is hereby established. The role of the task force  includes  but
is not limited to:
  (a) assessing the causal factors for the condition of African American
men;
  (b) assessing state programs and initiatives that serve to improve the
condition  of  African  American  men  and  identifying the gaps in such
services;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04487-01-9

A. 2223                             2
              

  (c) developing strategies to reduce duplication  of  services  and  to
maximize  coordination between state agencies, providers and educational
institutions, including developing benchmarks to measure progress; and
  (d) preparing a report for submission to the governor and the legisla-
ture  that  provides  specific  recommendations regarding existing state
laws, regulations, programs, policies, and  practices  relating  to  the
condition of African American men in the state.
  S 3. The task force shall issue its findings, in the form of a report,
no later than December 31, 2010.
  S  4. The task force shall consist of 17 members and shall include the
commissioner of temporary and disability assistance, the commissioner of
children and family services, the commissioner of correctional services,
the commissioner of economic development, the  commissioner  of  health,
the  commissioner  of  human  rights, the commissioner of education, the
commissioner of labor and the chancellor of the state university of  New
York,  or  a designee of any of such officers. The remaining eight shall
be appointed, within 60 days of the  effective  date  of  this  act,  as
follows:    two  shall  be  appointed  by the temporary president of the
senate; two shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; two
shall be appointed by the speaker of the  assembly;  and  two  shall  be
appointed  by  the  minority leader of the assembly. The member from the
office of temporary and disability assistance shall serve as the  direc-
tor  of the task force and he or she may assign staff as is necessary to
carry out the provisions of  this  section.  Task  force  members  shall
receive  no  compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for
travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
  S 5. The task force may consult  with  any  organization,  educational
institution,  governmental agency, or person, that advocates for African
American men.
  S 6. The director of the task force may reconvene the task force, with
the same or different members, after issuance of the report, to  address
any further issues associated with the condition of African American men
in New York state.
  S  7. All departments or agencies of the state or subdivisions thereof
shall, at the request of the director, provide the task force with  such
facilities,  assistance, and data as will enable the task force to carry
out its powers and duties.
  S 8. This act shall take effect immediately.