New York A 2607: Relates to increasing access to resources for culturally diverse arts and culture organizations that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, racial and social justice, and cultural preservation

Bill Text

Bill Search and Legislative Information | New York State Assembly 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Skip to main content 

 New York State Assembly

 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

 --> 
 --> 

 --> 

• 
 Assembly Members 

• 
 Legislative Info 

• 
 Public Hearings 

• 
 Speaker's Press 

• 
 Assembly Reports 

• 
 Committees & More 

• Bill Search Home
• Laws
• Legislative Calendar
• Public Hearing Schedule
• Assembly Calendars
• Assembly Committee Agenda 

 Javascript must be enabled to properly view this page. 

 Bill No.: 

• Summary 
• Actions 
• Committee&nbspVotes 
• Floor&nbspVotes 
• Memo 
• Text 
• LFIN 
• Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript 
A02607 Summary:

BILL NOA02607 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S00115-A

&nbsp

SPONSORCunningham

&nbsp

COSPNSRGibbs, Hyndman, Simon, Reyes, Shimsky

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Amd §§3.01, 3.03, 3.05 & 3.11, Arts & Cul L

&nbsp

Increases access to resources for culturally diverse arts and culture organizations that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, racial and social justice, and cultural preservation.

Go to top A02607 Actions:

BILL NOA02607 

&nbsp

01/21/2025referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development

01/07/2026referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development

Go to topA02607 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA02607 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA02607 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 2607

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 January 21, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. CUNNINGHAM, GIBBS, HYNDMAN, SIMON -- read once
 and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports
 Development

 AN ACT to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to
 increasing access to resources for culturally diverse arts and culture
 organizations that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion,
 racial and social justice, and cultural preservation

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Section 3.01 of the arts and cultural affairs law is
 2 amended to read as follows:
 3 § 3.01. Legislative findings and declaration of policy. It is hereby
 4 found that many of our citizens lack the opportunity to view, enjoy or
 5 participate in living cultural and theatrical performances, musical
 6 concerts, operas, dance and ballet recitals, art exhibits, cultural
 7 exhibits, examples of fine architecture, and the performing and fine
 8 arts generally, and that such lack is exacerbated by racial and social
 9 inequities. It is hereby further found that, with increasing leisure
 10 time, the practice and enjoyment of the arts and culture are of increas-
 11 ing importance and that the general welfare of the people of the state
 12 will be promoted by giving further recognition to the arts and culture
 13 as a vital aspect of our culture and heritage and as a valued means of
 14 expanding the scope of our educational programs and funding to reflect
 15 cultural diversity and equity.
 16 It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to join with
 17 private patrons and with institutions [and], professional organizations,
 18 and culture-based organizations concerned with [the] arts and culture to
 19 insure that cultural preservation and development and the role of the
 20 arts in the life of our communities will continue to grow and will play
 21 an ever more significant part in the welfare and educational experience

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00244-02-5

 A. 2607 2

 1 of our citizens and in maintaining the paramount position of this state
 2 in the nation and in the world as a cultural center.
 3 It is further declared that all activities undertaken by the state in
 4 carrying out this policy shall be directed toward encouraging and
 5 assisting rather than in any ways limiting the freedom of artistic and
 6 cultural expression that is essential for the well-being of the arts and
 7 culture. In furtherance thereof, it is hereby declared to be the policy
 8 of the state to support and promote greater access, diversity, equity,
 9 and inclusion.
 10 § 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 3.03 of the arts and
 11 cultural affairs law, as amended by chapter 629 of the laws of 2024, is
 12 amended to read as follows:
 13 (a) The council on the arts in the executive department is hereby
 14 continued. The twenty-one members shall be, broadly representative of
 15 all fields of the performing and fine arts and cultural preservation and
 16 development, to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and
 17 consent of the senate, from among private citizens who are widely known
 18 for their professional competence and experience in connection with the
 19 performing and fine arts; provided, however, that the council shall have
 20 a