Bill Text: NY A03124 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Enacts the "New York commission for the deaf and hard of hearing act".

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - referred to governmental operations [A03124 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A03124-Introduced.html



                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          3124

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    February 2, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced by M. of A. SAYEGH -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Governmental Operations

        AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting the "New York
          commission for the deaf and hard of hearing act"

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

     1    Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
     2  the "New York commission for the deaf and hard of hearing act".
     3    §  2.  The  executive  law is amended by adding a new section 559-a to
     4  read as follows:
     5    § 559-a. 1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless  the  context
     6  requires otherwise:
     7    (a) "Chairperson" means the chairperson of the commission for the deaf
     8  and hard of hearing.
     9    (b)  "Commission"  means the commission for the deaf and hard of hear-
    10  ing.
    11    (c) "Director" means the director of the commission for the  deaf  and
    12  hard of hearing.
    13    (d)  "Vice-chairperson"  means  the vice-chairperson of the commission
    14  for the deaf and hard of hearing.
    15    2. Commission. The commission for the deaf  and  hard  of  hearing  is
    16  created as an executive agency of state government. The commission shall
    17  be  composed of eleven members, governed by a chairperson, and headed by
    18  a director.
    19    3. Commission membership. (a) The  commission  shall  be  composed  of
    20  eleven  voting  members  appointed by the governor from residents of the
    21  state whose position, knowledge, or experience enables them  to  reason-
    22  ably  represent the concerns, needs, and recommendations of deaf or hard
    23  of hearing persons. At a minimum, six voting members of  the  commission
    24  shall  be  persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, at least one of whom
    25  shall be fluent in a sign language other than  American  sign  language.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07673-01-3

        A. 3124                             2

     1  The  remaining five   members of the commission shall be representatives
     2  of agencies, nonprofit corporations and organizations, and other  groups
     3  that  work  with  the  deaf  and hard of hearing communities, as well as
     4  academics  and other experts. The chairperson of the commission shall be
     5  elected from the commission's membership by a simple  majority  vote  of
     6  the  total  membership  of  the  commission. The vice-chairperson of the
     7  commission shall be elected from the commission's membership by a simple
     8  majority vote of the total membership of the commission.
     9    (b) The governor shall consider nominations made  by  advocacy  groups
    10  for the deaf and hard of hearing and community-based organizations.
    11    (c)  Of  the initial members appointed by the governor, three shall be
    12  appointed to terms of one year, four shall be appointed to terms of  two
    13  years,  and four shall be appointed to terms of three years. Thereafter,
    14  all members shall be appointed for terms of three years. No member shall
    15  serve more than two consecutive terms. A member shall serve until his or
    16  her successor is appointed and qualified.
    17    (d) Initial members' terms of office shall be chosen  by  lot  at  the
    18  initial meeting of the commission.
    19    (e)  Vacancies  in  commission  membership shall be filled in the same
    20  manner as initial appointments. Appointments to fill vacancies occurring
    21  before the expiration of a term shall be for the remainder of the  unex-
    22  pired term.
    23    (f)  Members  shall  not  receive  compensation for their services but
    24  shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in  the  perform-
    25  ance  of  their  duties  plus up to fifty dollars per day for any actual
    26  loss of wages incurred in the performance of their duties.
    27    (g) Total membership consists of the  number  of  voting  members,  as
    28  defined  in this section, excluding any vacant positions. A quorum shall
    29  consist of a simple majority of total membership and shall be sufficient
    30  to conduct the transaction of business of the commission  unless  stipu-
    31  lated otherwise in the by-laws of the commission.
    32    (h) The commission shall meet at least quarterly.
    33    4.  Director.  The director shall be hired, supervised, evaluated, and
    34  terminated by the commission. The director shall carry out the policies,
    35  programs, and activities of the commission. The director  shall  employ,
    36  manage,  and  organize  the  staff  of the commission as he or she deems
    37  appropriate.
    38    5. Powers and duties of the commission.  The  commission  shall  be  a
    39  coordinating and advocating body that acts on behalf of the interests of
    40  persons  in  this state who are deaf or hard of hearing, including chil-
    41  dren, adults, senior citizens, and those with any additional disability.
    42  The commission shall cooperate and work in consultation with other agen-
    43  cies of the state with appropriate expertise and  authority  in  matters
    44  relating  to  persons  who  are deaf or hard of hearing.  The commission
    45  shall submit an annual report of its activities to the governor and  the
    46  legislature  on  or  before  January  first of each year. The commission
    47  shall:
    48    (a) Make  available  and  provide  an  educational  and  informational
    49  program through printed materials, workshop and training sessions, pres-
    50  entations,  demonstrations,  and public awareness events about deaf gain
    51  for citizens in this state and for  public  and  private  entities.  The
    52  program  shall  include,  but  not be limited to, information concerning
    53  information  and  referral  services,  lending  libraries,  service  and
    54  resource  availability,  the  interpreter  registry,  accessibility  and
    55  accommodation issues, assistive technology,  empowerment  issues,  obli-
    56  gations  of  service  providers  and employers, educational options, and

        A. 3124                             3

     1  current federal and state statutes, regulations, and policies  regarding
     2  deaf gain.
     3    (b)  Cooperate  with public and private agencies and local, state, and
     4  federal governments to coordinate programs for persons who are  deaf  or
     5  hard of hearing.
     6    (c)  Provide  technical assistance, consultation, and training support
     7  to start and enhance existing programs and services for persons who  are
     8  deaf or hard of hearing.
     9    (d)  Evaluate  and  monitor state programs delivering services to deaf
    10  and hard of hearing persons to determine their  effectiveness;  identify
    11  and promote new services or programs whenever necessary; and make recom-
    12  mendations  to  public  officials about changes necessary to improve the
    13  quality and delivery of services, programs,  and  activities  and  about
    14  future financial support to continue existing programs and establish new
    15  programs.
    16    (e)  Monitor  state funded programs delivering services to persons who
    17  are deaf or hard of hearing to determine the extent  that  promised  and
    18  mandated services are delivered.
    19    (f)  Review,  evaluate, and participate in the development of proposed
    20  and amended statutes,  rules,  regulations,  and  policies  relating  to
    21  services,  programs, and activities for deaf and hard of hearing persons
    22  and make recommendations on existing statutes, rules,  regulations,  and
    23  policies to the governor, the legislature and state agencies.
    24    (g)  Promote  cooperation  among  state  and  local agencies providing
    25  educational programs for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
    26    (h) Make recommendations upon request from the governor, the  legisla-
    27  ture  and  state  agencies  regarding  rules  and regulations related to
    28  recruitment, evaluation, certification, licensure, and  training  stand-
    29  ards of interpreters for deaf and hard of hearing persons.
    30    6.  Rules  and  regulations. The commission shall promulgate rules and
    31  regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
    32    § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
    33  it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
    34  ment,  and/or repeal of any rules and regulations necessary to implement
    35  the provisions of this act on its effective date are  authorized  to  be
    36  completed on or before such effective date.
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