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

                                  7983

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 25, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Economic Development

AN  ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to establish-
  ing the office for new Americans

  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
article 15 to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 15
                        OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS
SECTION 265. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
        266. OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEES.
        267. OBJECTIVES.
        268. POWERS AND DUTIES.
  S 265. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. THE  LEGISLATURE  FINDS  THAT  SINCE  THE
FOUNDING OF THIS STATE OUR PROSPERITY AND GREATNESS IS DUE IN LARGE PART
TO THE EFFORTS AND SACRIFICES OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. THE LEGISLA-
TURE  FURTHER FINDS THAT NEW YORK HAS LONG BEEN A GATEWAY TO AMERICA FOR
VAST NUMBERS OF IMMIGRANTS, WHO HAVE COME  TO  THIS  LAND  SEEKING  BOTH
FREEDOM  AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THAT THE
ANCESTORS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FIRST ENTERED THIS NATION THROUGH NEW
YORK CITY, GIVING US A UNIQUE  HISTORICAL  HERITAGE.    THE  LEGISLATURE
FURTHER  FINDS  THAT NEW YORK REMAINS A MAJOR ENTRY POINT FOR IMMIGRANTS
TO THIS DAY.  THE LEGISLATURE FURTHER FINDS THAT IT IS IN BOTH THE SHORT
AND LONG TERM INTEREST OF THE STATE THAT NEW IMMIGRANTS,  ENTERING  THIS
COUNTRY  LEGALLY  AND IN THE HOPE OF BUILDING A FUTURE, BE ASSISTED WITH
ACCESSING THE MANY HOMEOWNERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES  THAT
EXIST  IN  THE STATE, SO THAT THEY MAY BE HELPED TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN
DREAM AND IMPROVE THE PROSPERITY OF THE STATE AS A WHOLE.  THE  LEGISLA-
TURE  FURTHER  FINDS  THAT  A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE
SUFFERED FROM LOSS OF POPULATION AND  BUSINESSES  OVER  THE  LAST  FIFTY

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11640-01-1
              

A. 7983                             2

YEARS,  WHICH HAS LED TO LARGE NUMBERS OF VACANT HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN
THESE COMMUNITIES, AND THAT SUCH COMMUNITIES MAY  HAVE  AN  INTEREST  IN
ATTRACTING  IMMIGRANT  COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO HELP REVITALIZE DEPRESSED
AREAS AND BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.
  S  266. OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEES. THERE IS HEREBY
CREATED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AN OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS. THE  DIRECTOR
OF SUCH OFFICE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, SHALL REPORT DIRECTLY
TO  THE  COMMISSIONER  ON  THE  ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE, AND SHALL HOLD
OFFICE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSIONER. IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF  THE
DIRECTOR  OF  THE OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS TO ASSIST THE GOVERNOR IN THE
FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LAWS  AND  POLICIES  RELATING  TO  THE
INTEGRATION  OF  IMMIGRANT  COMMUNITIES  INTO THE ECONOMIC FABRIC OF THE
STATE. THE DIRECTOR SHALL RECEIVE AN ANNUAL SALARY TO BE  FIXED  BY  THE
GOVERNOR  WITHIN  THE  AMOUNT  APPROPRIATED  THEREFOR.  THE DIRECTOR MAY
APPOINT  SUCH  OFFICERS,  EMPLOYEES,  AGENTS,  CONSULTANTS  AND  SPECIAL
COMMITTEES  AS  HE OR SHE MAY DEEM NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS ARTICLE AND PRESCRIBE THEIR DUTIES SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS  OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION.
  S  267.  OBJECTIVES.  THE  OFFICE  FOR  NEW  AMERICANS IS CHARGED WITH
ASSISTING BOTH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH AN INTEREST IN  ATTRACTING  GROUPS
OF  IMMIGRANTS,  AND  GROUPS  OF IMMIGRANTS WHO MAY BE IN SEARCH OF SUCH
OPPORTUNITY. THIS ASSISTANCE SHOULD CONSIST PRIMARILY OF OUTREACH, COOR-
DINATION, INFORMATION, AND REFERRAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS PROVIDING LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WITH ADVICE ON THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFUL-
LY RECRUIT AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
  S 268. POWERS AND DUTIES. (1) THE OFFICE WILL COORDINATE AS  APPROPRI-
ATE  WITH ALL STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE OFFICE OF
SMALL CITIES, THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL, THE  GOVER-
NOR'S  OFFICE  OF  REGULATORY  REFORM,  AND ALL OTHER AGENCIES AS MAY BE
APPROPRIATE IN FORWARDING THIS OBJECTIVE. THE OFFICE MAY  ALSO  WORK  IN
COOPERATION  WITH  ANY SUCH NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE OFFICE
BELIEVES WILL HELP FURTHER ITS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
  (2) THE OFFICE SHALL BE STRICTLY LIMITED TO OFFERING ITS ASSISTANCE TO
COMMUNITIES OF NATURALIZED UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND/OR  LEGALLY  DOCU-
MENTED RESIDENT ALIENS AS DEFINED BY THE UNITED STATES DIVISION OF IMMI-
GRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE).
  (3) THE OFFICE SHALL BE LIMITED TO ASSISTING BOTH LOCALITIES AND IMMI-
GRANT  GROUPS  WITH  ACCESSING EXISTING PROGRAMS OF ASSISTANCE THAT WILL
PROMOTE THE BUILDING OF VIBRANT, INDEPENDENT, AND  HEALTHY  COMMUNITIES,
WITH  AN EMPHASIS ON PROMOTING HOME OWNERSHIP AND BUSINESS CREATION. THE
OFFICE FOR NEW AMERICANS  IS  ALSO  AUTHORIZED  TO  CONDUCT  EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS  CONSISTENT  WITH  THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, AND TO PROMOTE
AWARENESS OF AND ACCESS TO EXISTING STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL
ADVANCE THOSE PURPOSES.
  (4-A) THE OFFICE SHALL SOLICIT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT  AGENCIES  FOR  PROMOTING  THE
OBJECTIVES OF THIS ARTICLE, AND REFER SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVER-
NOR, THE LEGISLATURE AND APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCIES OR AUTHORITIES.
  (4-B)  THE  OFFICE SHALL CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS, RESEARCH, STUDIES AND
ANALYSES OF MATTERS AFFECTING THE  INTERESTS  OF  IMMIGRANT  COMMUNITIES
WITHIN  THE STATE CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS ARTI-
CLE.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.