BILL NUMBER: S8703

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act relating to establishing a legislative committee on racial equity
in the New York state senate

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to provide a racial equity impact assessment
on all legislation that is favorably to the senate.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1a. There is hereby created the legislative committee on racial
equity in the New York State Senate. The committee shall provide a
racial equity impact assessment on all legislation that is reported
favorably to the assembly. The committee shall solicit input from
members of the public, especially those individuals with expertise
related to racial equity issues, to aid the committee in its work.
              

b. The committee shall consist of the public senate majority leader,
senate minority leader, and ten members appointed by the president of
the Senate who are representative of the racial diversity that exists in
New York State. Any vacancies occurring among the members of the commit-
tee shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment.

c. The committee shall (1) prepare a racial equity impact assessment on
all legislation that is reported favorably to the assembly to minimize
unanticipated adverse consequences by utilizing resources that have a:

(i) history of expertise and positive outcomes in racial equity; and

(ii) a deep understanding of ameliorating disproportionate outcomes and
unintended costs; (2) hold a hearing on any matter relating to the func-
tions of the committee; (3) identify state policies and actions that, in
conjunction with public and private partners and in support of racial
equity, can work to achieve conditions of such; (4) review and make
recommendations to align state statutes, regulations, programs, services
and budget priorities; (S) search for any interdepartmental gaps, incon-
sistencies and inefficiencies in the implementation or attainment of the
state policies and actions; (6) identify any new laws, regulations,
programs, services, and budgetary priorities that are needed to ensure
and promote desired conditions of racial equity; (7) serve as an infor-
mational resource for the assembly; and (8) perform other activities,
including public awareness.

d. The committee shall have the same powers as other standing or select
committees of the legislature.

 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION:

N/A

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This initiative provides New York with a mechanism to ensure that
proposed legislation will consider racial equity. Numerous studies (such
as Clark, Tims) have shown the disproportionate negative outcomes for
people of color across systems and while legislation is often enacted
with the intention of ameliorating social issues, it often, does not
recognize the unintended consequences for people of color or the inher-
ently embedded racial inequities faced by such populations. New Yorkers
have firsthand knowledge of the differential and negative impact on
communities of color as a result of legislation and policies that aimed
at tackling problems, but resulted in negative outcomes with intergener-
ational ramifications.  During the 2016 election, the 1994 Crime Bill
became a focal issue directly linked to the disproportionate negative
outcomes and mass incarnation of people of color. A racial equity impact
assessment would have examined potential differential outcomes embedded
in the proposed legislation prior to it becoming law.

Economic and Environmental Impact Statements are commonly used for
legislative and policy, systemic, decision making. Such assessments are
used to evaluate potential harm and ensure fiscal and environmental
protections in the face of limited resources. In the same fashion, the
REIA will be a vital tool for preventing institutional racism and for
identifying new options to remedy long-standing inequities.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATION HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

N/A

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.