S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1794
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 13, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. PEOPLES-STOKES, AUBRY, WRIGHT, CUSICK, COOK --
   Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CAHILL, GALEF, JAFFEE,  RIVERA,  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.
   §  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;
   (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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD03444-01-7

 A. 1794                             2
 
 laws,  regulations,  programs,  policies,  and practices relating to the
 condition of African American men in the state.
   § 3. The task force shall issue its findings, in the form of a report,
 no later than December 31, 2018.
   §  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 corrections and commu-
 nity supervision, the commissioner of economic development, the  commis-
 sioner  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 presi-
 dent 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  director  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.
   §  5.  The  task  force may consult with any organization, educational
 institution, governmental agency, or person, that advocates for  African
 American men.
   § 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.
   § 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.
   § 8. This act shall take effect immediately.