Relates to acknowledging the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the city of New York and the state of New York; establishes the New York state community commission on reparations remedies to examine the institution of slavery, subsequently de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Americans, the impact of these forces on living African-Americans and to make recommendations on appropriate remedies; provides for the repeal of such provisions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2619A
SPONSOR: Barron TITLE OF BILL:
An act to acknowledge the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and
inhumanity of slavery in the city of New York and the state of New York;
to establish the New York state community commission on reparations
remedies, to examine the institution of slavery, subsequently de jure
and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Ameri-
cans, and the impact of these forces on living African-Americans and to
make determinations regarding compensation; and providing for the repeal
of such provisions upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill establishes the New York state community commission on repara-
tions remedies
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill states the name of the act.
Section two if the bill is the legislative intent.
Section three of the bill establishes the purpose and duties of the
commission.
Section four outlines the appointment and qualifications of the commis-
sion members and commission's meeting requirements.
Section five of the bill outlines the power of the commission. Section
six outlines the date on which the commission shall end. Section seven
is the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION:
Changes have been made to the membership composition as well as the
commission's duties and powers. The appropriation language has been
removed from the prior version of the bill.
JUSTIFICATION:
To acknowledge the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhu-
manity of slavery in the City of New York and the State of New York.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-2020: A.3080-A (Barron) - Reported to Ways and Means
2017-2018: A.7274-A (Barron) - Reported to Ways and Means
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed 90 days after the New York state community commission to study
reparations remedies submits its report to the temporary president of
the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leaders of the
senate and the assembly and the governor as provided in subdivision c of
section three of this act; provided that, the chair of the New York
state community commission to study reparations remedies shall notify
the legislative bill drafting commission upon the submission of its
report as provided in subdivision c of section three of this act in
order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective
data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in
furtherance of effecting the provisions of section 44 of the legislative
law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
