NY State Senate Bill 2021-S7510

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to higher education
Nov 05, 2021	referred to rules

co-Sponsors

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8471
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the "New York local news act"; establishes the New York commission on local news and civic information to advance research and innovation in the field of media and technology to benefit the state's civic life and evolving information needs.

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7510

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to establishing the "New York Local News Act"

 
PURPOSE:

To establish a system for supporting innovation in delivering local news
and civic information in New York State in partnership between the
state, SUNY and CUNY campuses, and local non-profit organizations.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Sets name for this act as the New York Local News Act.

Section 2: Defines certain terms used in this act.

Section 3: Establishes the New York Commission on Local News and Civic
Information.

Section 4: Establishes the commission's board of directors, including
appointments and terms of service.

Section 5: Lays out staff for the commission, including the executive
director, program officers, and administrators, including their duties
and responsibilities.

Section 6: Lays out the relationship between the commission and member
universities inside the SUNY and CUNY systems.

Section 7: Sets standards for grant eligibility for funds made available
through the commission and the types of projects such funds can support.

Section 8: Specifies that grants must be made with metrics in place to
ensure effective evaluation and editorial independence for appropriate
projects.

Section 9: Requires an annual report to the Governor and legislative
leaders and a requirement for annual public hearings on the commission's
mission.

Section 10: Sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Local media organizations are a valuable source of information for citi-
zens all over New York. In the past 15 years, 25% of the country's news-
papers have closed. Half of all counties in the United States have only
one newspaper, while many of the rest have none.  With shrinking reven-
ues and the financial effects of COVID-19, many newspapers are closing
for good. Without local media organizations, people are left in news
deserts where they are not aware of the issues in their communities.
After many years of local papers in decline, many national organizations
are trying to bring back local media. However, with challenging revenue
streams, states can help better inform underserved communities by
supporting local news ventures.

The coronavirus pandemic provides an important example of the need for
more local media. The media acts as the gatekeeper of information and as
a source of trustworthy news that people turn to. However, in many news
deserts, community members turn to social media where misinformation is
rampant. Local media provided community members with up-to-date COVID19
case numbers and information on testing and vaccination sites. National
news cannot provide this information that is more essential to resi-
dents' daily lives. Local reporters cover local issues more often and
can better inform readers than a national reporter.

Local media also plays an important role in our democracy. The media
covers elected officials, new legislation, and provides a check on the
government. This is essential to democracy because it makes constituents
more informed, which will aid them during elections.  Again, it would be
better if constituents are voting based on accurate information, rather
than misinformation they found on social media. A more informed voter
will also be more likely to participate in local elections as they would
understand who and what they will be voting for.

This bill would help New Yorkers be more informed on the most pressing
issues facing their communities. People still tend to trust their local
media outlets more than national media outlets, but for many counties,
there may not be any local media or just one. By working with universi-
ties and local communities, this bill provides targeted help for commu-
nities and underserved populations that need help the most. Investing in
local media will benefit our democracy and help keep misinformation out
of communities.

 
FISCAL IMPACT:

To be determined

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New legislation

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7510
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             November 5, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT in relation to establishing the "New York Local News Act"
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "New York
 local news act".
   § 2. Definitions. As used in this act:
   (a) "Board of directors" or "board" means the board  of  directors  of
 the New York commission on local news and civic information.
   (b) "Commission" means the New York commission on local news and civic
 information.
   (c)  "In-kind contribution" means a contribution of goods or services,
 other than a cash grant.
   (d) "Local community organization" means a locally-based  organization
 serving  a  community of people having shared interests that is incorpo-
 rated, organized, and operated in such a  manner  as  to  qualify  as  a
 nonprofit  corporation  described  in  section  501(c)(3) of the federal
 Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
   (e) "Member university" means the University of the State of New  York
 and the City University of New York.
   §  3.  New  York commission on local news and civic information estab-
 lished.  There is hereby established the New York  commission  on  local
 news  and  civic information which shall consist of the member universi-
 ties. The purpose of the commission shall be  to  advance  research  and
 innovation  in  the field of media and technology to benefit the state's
 civic life and evolving information needs.
   § 4. Board of directors. (a) The commission  shall  have  a  board  of
 directors  that  shall set strategic priorities and metrics to guide the
 commission's grant-making and other initiatives, as well as  to  approve
 grants.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13448-02-1

 S. 7510                             2
 
   (b) The board of directors shall consist of 17 members as follows:
   (i) two members appointed by the governor;
   (ii)  two  members appointed by the temporary president of the senate,
 and one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
   (iii) two members appointed by the speaker of the  assembly,  and  one
 member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly;
   (iv)  five members appointed by the chancellor of the state university
 of New York and the chancellor of the city university of New York,  each
 of  whom shall have background or experience in the field of journalism,
 media, or technology; and
   (v) four members appointed by a majority  vote  of  the  eleven  board
 members appointed pursuant to paragraphs (i) through (iv) of this subdi-
 vision, of which:
   (1) one member shall represent the media sector;
   (2) one member shall represent the technology sector; and
   (3)  two  members, not employed by the state or a member university at
 the time of the member's appointment, shall have demonstrated  a  record
 of  commitment  to public service and understand the importance of media
 and technology to the state's future.
   (c) Each board member shall serve a term of four  years,  except  that
 the member representing the New York media sector shall serve an initial
 term  of  one  year  and the member representing the New York technology
 sector shall serve an initial term of two years. No board  member  shall
 serve  more  than  two four-year terms. In the appointment of members to
 the board, every effort shall  be  made  to  strive  for  diversity  and
 balance  of  representation  according  to  gender, race, ethnicity, and
 geography within any limits allowed under  law.  Any  vacancies  in  the
 appointed  membership of the board occurring other than by expiration of
 term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but
 for the unexpired term only. Board members shall serve  without  compen-
 sation  but  may  be  reimbursed  for necessary expenses incurred in the
 performance of their duties within the limits of funds available to  the
 board.
   §  5.  Executive  director.  (a) The board shall appoint and employ an
 executive director and fix the  executive  director's  compensation  and
 conditions  of  employment.  The  executive  director shall be the chief
 executive, administrative, and operational officer of the commission and
 shall direct and supervise the administrative affairs  and  the  general
 management  of  the commission. The executive director shall oversee the
 commission's day-to-day operations,  which  includes  working  with  the
 board  to  meet  the  commission's  goals and grant-making requirements,
 hiring and managing program officers and administrative  staff  pursuant
 to  subdivision  (b)  of  this  section,  acting as spokesperson for the
 commission's work, and raising funds from external sources.  The  execu-
 tive director shall attend all meetings of the board.
   (b) (i) The executive director shall employ program officers who shall
 be experienced practitioners with a strong understanding of the media or
 civic  technology fields. The executive director shall strive to appoint
 program officers that represent the state's racial, ethnic, gender,  and
 geographic  diversity  within  any limits allowed under law. The program
 officers shall manage the grant-making process, in accordance  with  the
 commission's  goals.  The grant-making process shall include soliciting,
 recommending, and processing grant proposals, working with  grantees  to
 ensure  work on grant project ideas, and directing public engagement and
 evaluation efforts.
 S. 7510                             3
 
   (ii) The executive director shall employ no more than  three  adminis-
 trative staff to provide operational support for the commission, includ-
 ing  office  management,  support for the executive director and program
 officers, coordination among member universities, payment  to  grantees,
 human resources, and logistics.
   (c)  To  save on startup, operating, and ongoing administrative costs,
 one member university shall be responsible for  housing  the  commission
 and providing back-office support.
   §  6. Collaboration among member universities. The commission shall be
 a collaborative  effort  among  the  member  universities.  Each  member
 university  shall focus its initiatives on one area of expertise and the
 board of directors shall decide on each  member  university's  focus  of
 expertise  in  order  to  allow  for  greater collaboration among member
 universities, decrease competition for grants, and reduce redundancy  of
 efforts.  Member  universities  may collaborate on projects together, as
 well as seek out other academic institutions to partner with on  seeking
 grants.
   §  7.  Eligibility for grants; project goals. (a) To be eligible for a
 grant from the commission, a grant proposal application  shall  include,
 but not be limited to:
   (i)  evidence  of  a  collaboration between at least one member of the
 faculty or graduate student of a member  university  and  at  least  one
 local  community  organization,  media organization, or technology-based
 organization;
   (ii) information demonstrating that the collaboration would be a mutu-
 ally respectful partnership wherein all community and member  university
 participants  invest  in  a  project  designed to serve the commission's
 mission and the goals cited pursuant to subdivision (b) of this section;
 and
   (iii) proof that the member university or universities in  total  will
 provide  an  amount  of funding or make an in-kind contribution having a
 value that matches 10 percent of the amount of grant funding  for  which
 the applicant has applied, if an application is sponsored by one or more
 member  universities.  For  a  grant proposal application sponsored by a
 member university  housing  the  commission  and  providing  back-office
 support,  the cost of that housing and support to that member university
 shall count towards the funding or in-kind contribution match from  that
 member university.
   (b)  The commission shall provide grants for projects that achieve the
 following goals:
   (i) improve the quantity and quality of civic information in New  York
 communities;
   (ii)  give  residents  enhanced  access  to useful government data and
 public information through innovative applications, platforms, and tech-
 nologies;
   (iii) train students, professionals,  and  community  members  in  the
 practice of community storytelling, journalism, and media production;
   (iv)  become  sustainable  without  government  support while offering
 substantial civic information;
   (v) better meet the information needs of  low-income  communities  and
 racial  and  ethnic communities that have been underserved by the media;
 and
   (vi) invest in research and practices  that  can  help  media  outlets
 become  more  closely  connected to their audiences and more sustainable
 without government support.
 S. 7510                             4
 
   § 8. Grant agreement. A grant issued by the commission shall be in the
 form of a grant agreement. A grant agreement shall include  a  provision
 establishing  a  set of metrics for assessing the goals contained in the
 agreement to ensure evaluation of a grantee project on  how  well  those
 metrics  are  being  met and any other relevant accountability measures.
 The set of metrics shall be established by the board in conjunction with
 the executive director and program officers. The agreement shall include
 the expectations stated between the commission and  the  grantee,  which
 shall include, but not be limited to, a statement that:
   (a)  the grantee shall be independent from the influence of the state,
 a member university, and any other grantor or contributor  of  funds  or
 outside source; and
   (b)  any  grantor  or  other contributor of funds to the grantee shall
 acknowledge in writing the grantor's or contributor's understanding that
 the grant or donation does not entitle the  grantor  or  contributor  to
 dictate or influence the content of any work the grantee produces or may
 produce.
   §  9.  Annual  report  to the governor, the temporary president of the
 senate, and the speaker  of  the  assembly;  public  hearings.  (a)  The
 commission  shall  annually  report to the governor and to the temporary
 president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly, on the  activ-
 ities  of  the  commission  and make the report available on the commis-
 sion's website. Such report shall include, but not be limited to:
   (i) a list of all grant applicants and approved grant applicants;
   (ii) the grant amounts of approved grant applicants;
   (iii) the amount of matching funds and types of in-kind  contributions
 provided to approved grant applicants; and
   (iv)  a  status  report  on the activities funded by an approved grant
 applicant.
   (b) The commission shall make available on its website its  grant-mak-
 ing criteria and other relevant documents.
   (c)  The board, in conjunction with the executive director and program
 officers, shall hold  one  public  hearing  annually  in  the  northern,
 central,  and  southern  regions of the state. The public hearings shall
 provide a forum for the board to report on how the public funds that the
 commission receives are spent and to gather public  input  on  what  the
 commission's mission should be and whether the commission is meeting its
 mission.  Public  input shall be used to assess whether the commission's
 grant-making metrics and process for issuing grants needs to be changed.
   § 10. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S7510

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

co-Sponsors

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S7510

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Sponsored By

Rachel May

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

co-Sponsors

Pete Harckham

Zellnor Myrie

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S7510 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments