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

    S. 6076                                                  A. 8845

                      S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 4, 2012
                               ___________

IN  SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered print-
  ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance

IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by  M.  of  A.  STEVENSON  --  read  once  and
  referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations

AN ACT in relation to establishing the New York Muslim American Advisory
  Council

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

  Section 1. The Muslim American Advisory Council. The  New  York  State
Muslim  American  Advisory Council is hereby established. It will advise
the legislature on ways to advance the role and civic  participation  of
Muslim Americans in New York. Additionally, the Muslim American Advisory
Council (hereinafter referred to as the "Council") shall recommend stra-
tegies  to better integrate Muslims in New York socially, educationally,
culturally and economically. The Council shall facilitate  relationship-
building  in  the  Muslim community to achieve goals related to interna-
tional commerce in Muslim countries/communities, and  identify  ways  to
more  effectively  disseminate information and outreach to Muslim Ameri-
cans regarding state programs and services. The Council shall advise the
legislature on appropriate policy developments, official directives, and
other issues of significance impacting New York's Muslims. It will bring
important faith-based issues based on factual findings to  the  legisla-
ture's  attention  and  make recommendations to address those issues. It
will also strengthen communication between the state and Muslim  leader-
ship and the general community.
  S 2. The Council shall consist of ten members, as follows:
  a.  five  members  shall  be representatives of community-based/faith-
based organizations that advise or assist Muslim American communities.
  b. one member shall be appointed by the  temporary  president  of  the
senate.
  c. one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
  d. one member shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD13460-04-2

S. 6076                             2                            A. 8845

  e.  one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assem-
bly.
  f. one remaining member shall be appointed by the governor.
  S  3.  Each member of the Council shall serve for a term of four years
or until his or her successor is appointed.  A member appointed to  fill
a  vacancy shall serve the remainder of the term of the member he or she
is appointed to succeed.
  S 4. The members of the Council  shall  receive  no  compensation  for
their  services  but shall be reimbursed for their expenses actually and
necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
  S 5. The Council shall select a chair and a secretary from  among  the
members.
  S  6.  The Council shall meet as frequently as necessary, but not less
than four times per year. Such meetings shall be held at such  locations
as  the Council may determine. All such meetings shall be subject to the
open meetings law.
  S 7. Each member of the Council shall  be  entitled  to  designate  in
writing  a  representative to attend meetings in his or her place and to
vote or otherwise act on his or her behalf in his or her absence.
  S 8. The Council will present strategies to the legislature to  better
integrate  Muslims  in  New York socially, educationally, culturally and
economically in writing in the form of an  annual  report  approximately
sixteen months from the establishment of the Council and annually there-
after.
  S  9. The report shall consist of factual findings, progress analyses,
and recommendations regarding the implementation of state  programs  and
services as it affects Muslim Americans.
  S 10. This act shall take effect immediately.