STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7192--A 2017-2018 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY April 12, 2017 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. RICHARDSON, SEPULVEDA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT relating to establishing the commission on African American history and achievement The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The commission on African American history and achievement; 2 established. 1. The commission on African American history and achieve- 3 ment (commission) is hereby created and established. The commission 4 shall consist of thirteen members, including the commissioner of educa- 5 tion, or his or her designee, the chancellor of New York city schools, 6 or his or her designee, the chancellor of the state university of New 7 York, or his or her designee, and the chancellor of the board of 8 regents, or his or her designee, three members appointed by the gover- 9 nor, three members appointed by the temporary president of the senate, 10 and three members appointed by the speaker of the assembly. Appointed 11 members shall include but not be limited to teachers, including K-12 12 educators, historians, and those with a background in African American 13 history, arts, or culture. 14 2. Each member shall serve for a term of three years and shall be 15 eligible for reappointment. A vacancy occurring other than by expiration 16 of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment 17 for the unexpired term. 18 3. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but 19 shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred 20 in the performance of their duties. 21 4. The commissioner of education, or his or her designee, shall serve 22 as the chair and the chancellor of New York city schools, or his or her 23 designee, shall serve as the vice-chair of the commission. The presence EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD10730-04-7A. 7192--A 2 1 of a majority of the authorized membership of the commission shall be 2 required for the conduct of official business. 3 5. The department of education shall provide technical assistance and 4 data to the commission as may be necessary for the commission to carry 5 out its responsibilities pursuant to this act. 6 § 2. Duties and responsibilities. The commission shall be tasked with 7 developing and recommending curriculum that incorporates the contrib- 8 utions and achievements made by African Americans as part of New York's 9 education curriculum, including but not limited to the women's aboli- 10 tionist movement, the Harlem Renaissance, the Buffalo anti-slavery move- 11 ment, and the suffrage movement for African American Long Islanders. In 12 furtherance of this goal, the commission shall have the following duties 13 and responsibilities: 14 1. To survey and review current elementary and secondary education 15 curriculum as it relates to contributions and achievements of African 16 Americans throughout American and state history; 17 2. To develop recommendations on additional curriculum and instruction 18 for grades kindergarten through twelve that incorporate the contrib- 19 utions and achievements made by African Americans throughout American 20 and New York state history; and 21 3. Prepare reports for the governor and legislature regarding its 22 findings and recommendations on current curriculum and incorporating 23 additional instruction on the contributions and achievements made by 24 African Americans throughout American and New York state history. 25 § 3. The commission shall submit an annual report, beginning August 1, 26 2018, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speak- 27 er of the assembly, the chair of the senate education committee, and the 28 chair of the assembly education committee on its findings and recommen- 29 dations. 30 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.