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- Print number 4703a
- Amend and recommit to finance
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
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Creates a task force to study and assess the condition of African American men in New York
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Crystal Peoples-Stokes
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to establish a task force on the condition of African American men in New York state
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to address the prevailing issues facing African American men in society. African American men are: (1) disproportionately less likely to complete high school and to obtain a postsecondary education; (2) more likely to be incarcerated or on parole; (3) more likely to have lower lifetime economic earnings; (4) more likely to have been,a part of the child welfare population; (5) more likely to have a shorter life expectancy; and, (6) more likely to have health problems, such as HIV/AIDS, drug dependency, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, just to name a few.
Summary of provisions
This legislation would create a Task Force on the Condition of African American Men in New York State. The Task Force would determine causal factors for the condition of African American men; inventory State programs and initiatives that serve to improve the condition of African American men; identify gaps in services to African American men; and, develop strategies to reduce duplication of services and to maximize coordination between State agencies, providers, and educational institutions, including developing benchmarks to measure progress. Lastly, the task force will prepare a report for submission to the governor and the legislature that provides specific recommendations regarding existing state laws, regulations, programs, policies, and practices relating to the condition of African American men in New York State.
Read the full memo (654 words)
Justification
The experiences of young African American men differ in various ways from other young men of other racial and ethnic groups. Based on information from the US Census and other national statistics, it has become evident that African American men are disproportionately disadvantaged from young men of other racial and ethnic groups. African American men are less likely to complete high school and to obtain a post-secondary education. As of 2004, fewer than 8% of African American men have graduated from college, compared to 17% of Whites and 35% of Asians (Kaiser Family Foundation). African American Men are more likely to be incarcerated or on parole. In 2003, African Americans accounted for only 12% of the general population, and comprised 44% of all prisoners with sentences greater than one year. If incarceration rates remain unchanged, about one in three Black men are expected to go to prison during their lifetime as opposed to only one in 17 White men (The Institute for Higher Education Policy).
African American men are more likely to have lower lifetime economic earnings or be unemployed. In 2004, 72% of African American men in their 20s, who had dropped out of high school, were jobless (New York Times). This is comparable to only 34% of White men and 19% of Hispanic men who were high school dropouts in their 20s (New York Times). African American men are also more likely to have been a part of the child welfare system, which according to empirical data, often times results in delayed social and academic development. Lastly, African American men are much more likely to have a shorter life expectancy due to a higher prevalence of health problems, specifically HIV/AIDS, drug dependency, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Research shows that African American men live 7.1 years less than other racial groups and that 40-% die prematurely from cardiovascular disease, as compared to 21%- of White men. African American men are five times more likely to die of HIV/AIDS (about.com). African American men also have a higher incidence and a higher rate of death from oral cancer.
In order to examine the causes of these problems and develop appropriate remedies, a task force will be established to address the condition of African American men in the state.
Legislative history
A.9857 of 2007/2008; A.2223 of 2009/2010; A.999 of 2011/2012; A.4524 of 2013/2014.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.