New York A 1273: Establishes the LGBTQ+ advisory board

Bill Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1273
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KELLES, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, SEAWRIGHT, DAVILA,
THIELE, SIMON, DINOWITZ, EPSTEIN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the
LGBTQ+ advisory board
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 article 45-C
2 to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 45-C
4 LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD
5 Section 959. Definitions.
6 959-a. LGBTQ+ advisory board established.
7 959-b. Powers and duties.
8 § 959. Definitions. For the purposes of this article, the following
9 terms shall have the following meanings:
10 1. "LGBTQ+ advisory board" or "board" shall mean the LGBTQ+ advisory
11 board established pursuant to section nine hundred fifty-nine-a of this
12 article.
13 2. "LGBTQ+" shall mean a member of the community consisting of lesbi-
14 an, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and other non-cis-
15 gender individuals, or a reference to such community as a whole.
16 § 959-a. LGBTQ+ advisory board established. 1. There is hereby estab-
17 lished an advisory board to be known as the "LGBTQ+ advisory board".
18 2. The board shall be comprised of twelve members, to be appointed as
19 follows: four members to be appointed by the governor, three members to
20 be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, three members to
21 be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one member to be appointed
EXPLANATION--Matter in (underscored) is new; matter in bracketsitalics
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03437-01-3

A. 1273 2
1 by the minority leader of the senate, and one member to be appointed by
2 the minority leader of the assembly.
3 3. All members appointed to the board shall be individuals who identi-
4 fy as LGBTQ+. No individual shall be appointed as a board member who is
5 a member of the New York state legislature, a statewide elected offi-
6 cial, a commissioner of an executive agency appointed by the governor,
7 or a state officer or employee or a legislative employee as defined in
8 section seventy-three of the public officers law.
9 4. The initial appointment of board members pursuant to subdivision
10 two of this section shall be staggered as follows: three members for a
11 term of one year, three members for a term of two years, three members
12 for a term of three years, and three members for a term of four years.
13 After the initial staggering of terms, such board members shall be
14 appointed for a term of four years. No such board member shall serve
15 more than two consecutive four-year terms. The remainder of any such
16 term to which a board member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not
17 constitute a term in determining such board member's eligibility for
18 reappointment.
19 5. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in
20 the same manner provided for original appointments. All board members
21 may be reappointed.
22 6. Board members shall receive no compensation for their services but
23 shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
24 performance of their duties.
25 7. To effectuate the purposes of this section, the board may request
26 from any department, board, bureau, commission or other agency of the
27 state, and the same are authorized to provide, such cooperation and
28 assistance, services and data as will enable the board to properly carry
29 out its functions pursuant to this section.
30 § 959-b. Powers and duties. The board shall have the powers and duties
31 to:
32 1. Advise the governor regarding the development of economic, profes-
33 sional, cultural, and educational links between New York state and the
34 LGBTQ+ community in New York state and advise state agencies in develop-
35 ing policies designed to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in New
36 York state.
37 2. Undertake studies, conduct research, and prepare factual reports to
38 gather information to formulate and present recommendations to the
39 governor relating to issues of concern and importance to the LGBTQ+
40 community in New York state.
41 3. Advise the governor as needed regarding any statutory, regulatory,
42 or other issues of importance to the LGBTQ+ community in New York state.
43 4. Work with state agencies to develop potential legislation and
44 regulatory changes relating to issues of concern and importance to the
45 LGBTQ+ community in New York state.
46 5. Submit an annual report to the governor, the temporary president of
47 the senate, and the speaker of the assembly detailing the actions of the
48 board, and any recommendations of the board to address issues of concern
49 and importance to the LGBTQ+ community in New York state.
50 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred