NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6219B
SPONSOR: Gonzalez-Rojas TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the collection of
certain demographic information by certain state agencies, boards,
departments and commissions
PURPOSE:
To require that the state disaggregate the Middle Eastern or North Afri-
can group from the White group when collecting demographic data regard-
ing the ancestry or ethnic origin of New York residents.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one adds a new section 170-h to the executive law to require
that every state agency, board, department or commission that directly
collects demographic data regarding the ancestry or ethnic origin of a
New York resident disaggregate Middle Eastern or North African from the
White demographic, or collect separate data on each major Middle Eastern
or North African group.
Section two sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, individuals of Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) descent
and those of European descent are aggregated into the collective term
"white" for the purposes of New York State demographic data collection.
However, following the September 11 attacks, MENA individuals faced
increased racism and xenophobia across our nation. Studies now show that
the majority of MENA individuals do not identify as white.
MENA communities across New York State remain underserved, exhibiting
higher rates of language needs, housing insecurity, poverty, domestic
abuse, and health disparities. Despite this, MENA individuals, organiza-
tions, and businesses face difficulties when attempting to receive equi-
ty-based support due to their classification as white. Furthermore,
groups providing aid to MENA communities encounter challenges when
trying to find these groups due to the lack of MENA data. The U.S.
Census' estimates indicate that there are at least 280,000 MENA New
Yorkers, but studies indicate that the actual number is likely over
500,000 due to the lack of MENA data collection. In the census, demo-
graphic maps, and other data tools, MENA individuals are invisible as
they remain buried within the white demographic. By disaggregating
Middle Eastern or North African from white, MENA New Yorkers can finally
be seen and supported.
This bill goes one step further by also permitting further disaggre-
gation of MENA communities, ensuring that specific data can be collected
on the inequalities found between different MENA groups. Similar legis-
lation disaggregating the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific
Islander demographic was signed into New York law in 2021.
There is strong precedent for this legislation. In 2015, President Obama
began the process to federally disaggregate MENA data. Unfortunately,
President Trump reversed this process upon taking office, and only now
is President Biden renewing the initiative once more. Even if President
Biden is successful, it will be years before these changes take place on
the federal level. At this time, no states have yet disaggregated MENA
data. New York State is a trailblazer, and it is time for us to step up
and pave the way in providing our MENA communities the recognition they
deserve.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall'have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.
