Bill Text: NY S01693 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relates to enacting the "N.Y. state digital equity plan act"; requires the division of broadband access to develop a state digital equity plan to increase broadband access to underserved populations by January 1, 2025.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-01-03 - REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS [S01693 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S01693-Introduced.html

---

                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          1693

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                    January 13, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations,  Authorities
          and Commissions

        AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
          relation to enacting the "N.Y. state digital equity plan 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 "N.Y. state digital equity plan act".
     3    §  2.  Subdivision  10 of section 16-gg of section 1 of chapter 174 of
     4  the laws of 1968 constituting the urban development corporation act,  as
     5  added  by  section  2  of part MMM of chapter 58 of the laws of 2022, is
     6  amended and a new subdivision 10-a is added to read as follows:
     7    10. ConnectAll digital equity grant program.  The  ConnectAll  digital
     8  equity  grant  program  is  hereby established to support individuals to
     9  have the information technology capacity needed for  full  participation
    10  in  society and the economy, including the effective implementation of a
    11  State Digital Equity Plan or any successor plan. Grants issued  pursuant
    12  to  this  program shall be awarded in a manner and form as determined by
    13  the division consistent with all relevant federal  laws,  codes,  rules,
    14  and regulations associated with the federal Digital Equity Act as estab-
    15  lished  under  the  Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The division
    16  shall establish such State  Digital  Equity  Plan,  in  accordance  with
    17  subdivision  ten-a  of  this  section,  and  the  procedures to solicit,
    18  receive and evaluate proposals for the program  consistent  with  rules,
    19  regulations, or guidelines established by the commissioner.
    20    10-a.  (a)  By January 1, 2025, the division, in consultation with the
    21  public and the commissioner, shall develop a state digital equity plan.
    22    (b) The state digital equity plan shall include the following:

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05766-01-3
        S. 1693                             2

     1    (i) the identification of barriers to digital equity faced by  covered
     2  populations in this state. Barriers include, but are not limited to, the
     3  following:
     4    (1) the availability and affordability of access to fixed and wireless
     5  broadband technology at a speed, quality, and capacity that is necessary
     6  for the individual to accomplish common tasks;
     7    (2)  accessibility  and  inclusivity  of  online  public resources and
     8  services;
     9    (3) digital literacy;
    10    (4) awareness and use of measures to secure  the  online  privacy  and
    11  cybersecurity of an individual; and
    12    (5)  availability  and affordability of consumer devices and technical
    13  support for those devices.
    14    (ii) measurable objectives for documenting and promoting digital equi-
    15  ty among covered populations located in the state;
    16    (iii) an assessment of how the objectives described in  this  subdivi-
    17  sion will impact and interact with the following:
    18    (1)  economic  and workforce development goals, plans, and outcomes of
    19  the state;
    20    (2) educational outcomes, including, but not limited to, digital equi-
    21  ty barriers for individuals with learning disabilities and English lear-
    22  ners;
    23    (3) health outcomes;
    24    (4) civic and social engagement; and
    25    (5) delivery of other essential services.
    26    (iv) a description of how the division plans to collaborate  with  key
    27  stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the following:
    28    (1) community anchor institutions;
    29    (2) local governments;
    30    (3) local educational agencies;
    31    (4) Native American tribes;
    32    (5) non-profit organizations;
    33    (6) organizations that represent covered populations;
    34    (7) civil rights organizations;
    35    (8) entities that carry out workforce development programs;
    36    (9) state and local agencies that are responsible for administering or
    37  supervising adult education and literacy activities;
    38    (10) state and local public housing authorities;
    39    (11) internet service providers; and
    40    (12) partnerships between any of the entities described in clauses one
    41  through eleven of this subparagraph.
    42    (v)  a  list  of organizations with which the division collaborated in
    43  developing and implementing the state digital equity plan; and
    44    (vi) an assessment of existing digital inclusion programs in the state
    45  and recommendations for non-profit organizations to serve covered  popu-
    46  lations, including opportunities to integrate with other social services
    47  outreach  programs  and opportunities for covered populations to partic-
    48  ipate in training they can then leverage to enter careers in the  infor-
    49  mation technology sector.
    50    (c)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the division shall
    51  establish a digital equity fund to implement the  state  digital  equity
    52  plan.  The  fund  shall include all federal funding appropriated for the
    53  development of a state digital equity plan including but not limited  to
    54  funding  from  the  Infrastructure  Investment and Jobs Act. Interest on
    55  moneys deposited in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
        S. 1693                             3

     1    § 3. Subdivision 2 of section 16-gg of section 1 of chapter 174 of the
     2  laws of 1968 constituting the urban development  corporation  act,  such
     3  section  as  added by section 2 of part MMM of chapter 58 of the laws of
     4  2022, is amended by adding two new paragraphs (i) and  (j)  to  read  as
     5  follows:
     6    (i)  "consultation  with  the  public"  means soliciting and receiving
     7  policy recommendation letters from key stakeholders as listed in subpar-
     8  agraph (iv) of paragraph (b)  of  subdivision  ten-a  of  this  section,
     9  soliciting  and  receiving  public comment, and hosting public workshops
    10  and meetings.
    11    (j) "covered populations" means demographics that are  underserved  in
    12  regards  to  internet  access and digital literacy, and includes, but is
    13  not limited to, the following:
    14    (i) households whose income is one hundred fifty percent of the feder-
    15  al poverty level or less for the prior calendar year;
    16    (ii) individuals sixty years of age or older;
    17    (iii) veterans;
    18    (iv) individuals with disabilities;
    19    (v) individuals with language barriers, such as English  learners  and
    20  individuals with low literacy levels;
    21    (vi) members of a racial or ethnic minority group; and
    22    (vii) residents of rural areas.
    23    § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.