S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2555--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 21, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. BRISPORT, BROUK, COONEY, JACKSON, KAMINSKY, REICH-
   LIN-MELNICK, SALAZAR -- read  twice  and  ordered  printed,  and  when
   printed  to  be committed to the Committee on Education -- recommitted
   to the Committee on Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8
   -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered  reprinted  as  amended
   and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  establish  a  task  force on educator diversity in New York
   state; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration
   thereof
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Task force on educator diversity in New York state.  There
 is hereby established a task force on educator  diversity  in  New  York
 state. The purpose of the task force shall be to conduct a comprehensive
 study  on  the  presence  of  educator diversity, state actions taken to
 promote educator diversity in New York state, and how New York state can
 encourage new initiatives to enhance  and  promote  educator  diversity,
 including but not limited to:
   (a)  barriers which prevent students of color from entering the teach-
 ing profession, or remaining in the teaching profession;
   (b) recruitment and retention efforts;
   (c) mentorship programs for current educators of color;
   (d) initiatives aimed at encouraging students of color  to  enter  the
 teaching profession, also known as 'grow your own' initiatives;
   (e) scholarship opportunities for students of color who are interested
 in  entering  the  teaching  profession, and other funding mechanisms to
 assist such students;
   (f) initiatives that encourage teachers  of  color  to  become  school
 leaders and administrators, and barriers that have prevented teachers of
 color from becoming school leaders and administrators; and
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08755-03-2
 S. 2555--A                          2
              

 
   (g)  reviewing and commenting on reports issued by the state education
 department related to educator diversity.
   §  2.  a.  The  task  force  shall  consist  of thirteen members to be
 appointed as follows: (i) five people appointed by  the  governor;  (ii)
 four  people  appointed  by  the  temporary president of the senate; and
 (iii) four people appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
   b. The members of the task force shall designate one of the appointees
 as the chair of the task force. All appointments of members of the  task
 force  shall  be made no later than thirty days after the effective date
 of this act. Any vacancy shall be filled by  the  appointing  authority.
 The  members  of  the task force shall receive no compensation for their
 services, but shall be  allowed  their  actual  and  necessary  expenses
 incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.
   §  3.  The task force shall make a report to the governor and legisla-
 ture of its findings,  conclusions  and  recommendations  on  or  before
 December 31, 2023.
   §  4.  This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed January 31, 2024.