What's happening
This bill creates an international division within the New York Department of State to foster sister-state relationships and international exchanges.
Why it matters
Creates a dedicated government office. By establishing an international division within the Department of State, New York is institutionalizing and prioritizing international relationships, rather than handling them on an ad-hoc basis. This can lead to more strategic and sustained engagement with foreign states.
Potential for increased economic, educational, and cultural exchange. The division is tasked with creating a network and clearinghouse to promote international exchanges in commerce, education, and culture. This could open new markets for New York businesses, attract international students, and foster cultural understanding.
Formalizes partnerships with foreign regions (“sister states”). The bill creates a mechanism for New York to build official sister-state relationships, acting as a direct liaison between New York’s governor and foreign officials. This could make international cooperation more efficient and responsive.
Strengthens collaboration between state agencies and universities. The bill requires SUNY and the Department of Economic Development to work closely with the new division, potentially leading to more robust international academic exchanges and coordinated economic development efforts. This could benefit students, faculty, and New York’s broader economy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create International Relations Office
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
9 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create International Sister State Office
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4717
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 5, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BLAKE, COLTON, CRESPO, MOSLEY, ORTIZ, ROZIC, STECK, WRIGHT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, the education law and the economic development law, in relation to establishing an international division within the department of state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 92 of the executive law is amended and a new section 110 is added to read as follows:
§ 92. Deputies. The secretary of state shall appoint a deputy, who may perform all the duties of the secretary of state. Any such deputy shall receive an annual salary to be fixed by the secretary of state within the amount appropriated therefor. The secretary of state may also appoint and fix the compensation of such other deputies, assistants and employees as he or she shall deem necessary, and including a director of the international division, as established by section one hundred ten of this article, within the amount appropriated therefor and prescribe their powers and duties.
§ 110. International division. 1. There is established an international division within the department of state. The secretary of state shall provide for the establishment and operation of such division, and shall appoint a director to supervise the operation of such division and its employees.
2. The international division shall solicit, establish and maintain sister state relationships between the state of New York and states in other countries. For each of this state's international sister states, the international division shall act as the conduit between the governor and the chief executive officer of each sister state.
3. The international sister state program shall, in cooperation with the department of economic development for the purposes of implementing
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08788-01-9
A. 4717 2
article ten of the economic development law, establish an active network to operate a clearinghouse for information resources between this state and each sister state. The network shall be designed to promote international exchanges of commerce, education and culture.
4. The international division shall assist and work in cooperation with the international program of the state university of New York to establish, facilitate and maintain the exchange of students and faculty of the colleges and universities of the state university with the colleges and universities of sister states.
5. The international division may establish international sister state relationships upon its own initiative or upon request of any individual or entity.
§ 2. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
20. The state university trustees shall work in cooperation with the international division of the department of state to establish, facilitate and maintain the exchange of students and faculty of state-operated institutions with colleges and universities of the state's sister states.
§ 3. The economic development law is amended by adding a new section 226 to read as follows:
§ 226. Cooperation with international division. The provisions of this article shall be implemented by the commissioner and the department in consultation and cooperation with the international division of the department of state.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.