STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 3301--A R. R. 338 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 2, 2023 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. RAJKUMAR, KIM, MAMDANI, BICHOTTE HERMELYN, DILAN, ROZIC, PAULIN, WEPRIN, LAVINE, SAYEGH, PHEFFER AMATO, JOYNER, LUCAS, VANEL, WALLACE, McMAHON, BENEDETTO, CRUZ, D. ROSENTHAL, REYES, SEPTI- MO, LUNSFORD, HEVESI, OTIS, STERN, L. ROSENTHAL, CLARK, BARRETT, EPSTEIN, GLICK, BURGOS, SILLITTI, DE LOS SANTOS, ANDERSON, RAGA, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, SIMON, LEE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations -- reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means -- reported and referred to the Committee on Rules -- ordered to a third reading -- amended on the special order of third reading, ordered reprinted as amended, retaining its place on the special order of third reading AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the New York Asian American and Pacific Islander commission The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 295-a 2 to read as follows: 3 § 295-a. New York Asian American and Pacific Islander commission. 1. 4 (a) There is hereby established within the division the New York Asian 5 American and Pacific Islander commission. The commission shall consist 6 of fifteen members representative of Asian American and Pacific Islander 7 communities which may include, but not be limited to: the Bangladeshi, 8 Bhutanese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Indonesian, 9 Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Mongolian, Nepalese, Pakistani, 10 Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese communities. 11 Such members shall have experience advocating on behalf of their commu- 12 nity, and shall be appointed as follows: 13 (1) seven members shall be appointed by the governor; 14 (2) three members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the 15 senate; 16 (3) three members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD02690-02-3A. 3301--A 2 1 (4) one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 2 senate; and 3 (5) one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assem- 4 bly. 5 The commissioner shall serve as chair of the commission. 6 (b) Each member of the commission shall serve a term of three years, 7 except that in making the first appointments to the commission, four 8 members shall be appointed to serve for one year, four for two years, 9 and seven for three years. The first appointments made by the temporary 10 president of the senate and speaker of the assembly shall be allocated 11 equally between the three terms of service. The first appointments made 12 by the minority leaders shall serve for three years. The first appoint- 13 ments made by the governor shall be as follows: two members shall be 14 appointed to serve for one year, two members shall be appointed to serve 15 for two years, and three members shall be appointed to serve for three 16 years. The members shall be eligible for reappointment and shall serve 17 until their successors are appointed and qualified, and the term of the 18 successor of any incumbent shall be calculated from the expiration of 19 the term of that incumbent. A vacancy occurring other than by expiration 20 of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, 21 but for the unexpired term only. 22 (c) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a 23 quorum for the purpose of conducting the business thereof and a majority 24 vote of all the members in office shall be necessary for action. 25 2. The commission shall: 26 (a) develop policies to improve the community, economic and social 27 well-being, and the health and educational needs important to Asian 28 American and Pacific Islander communities in the state; 29 (b) develop and coordinate statewide programs, recognizing the contin- 30 uing contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals in 31 the state; 32 (c) create and implement public education campaigns regarding Asian 33 American and Pacific Islander issues and culture; 34 (d) increase the awareness among Asian American and Pacific Islander 35 individuals of state and local resources that may benefit Asian American 36 and Pacific Islander individuals and communities as a whole; and 37 (e) undertake any other activities the commission deems necessary and 38 applicable to support Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in 39 the state. 40 3. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but 41 they shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses 42 incurred in the performance of their duties. The division may provide 43 the commission with such staff, equipment, and facilities as it may 44 need. 45 4. The commission shall submit an annual report on its activities to 46 the governor and the legislature. 47 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.