What's happening
This bill creates a temporary commission to study and recommend ways to reduce economic inequality, eliminate poverty, and improve competitiveness in New York State.
Why it matters
Broad Scope of Inquiry. The commission is tasked with a sweeping mandate to examine not just economic inequality and poverty, but also related issues like shrinking middle class, impacts of tax policies, workforce training, access to housing and capital, and disparities by race, gender, and other identities. This could prompt more holistic policy approaches rather than piecemeal solutions.
Potential for Policy Reform. By specifically investigating the effects of current policies—such as minimum wage laws, tax structures, and social safety nets—the commission could lay groundwork for significant legislative reforms that directly address root causes of inequality and poverty.
Public Accountability and Transparency. The requirement to publicly release the commission’s recommendations and report online ensures that findings and proposed solutions are accessible to the public, fostering transparency and potentially spurring civic engagement and debate.
Focus on Competitiveness and Growth. Beyond social justice goals, the commission will also study ways to strengthen New York’s economic competitiveness, including evaluating factors like education, emerging technologies, and the manufacturing sector. This dual focus recognizes that reducing inequality and fostering growth can be mutually reinforcing.
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Create Economic Inequality Commission
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to rules
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6580
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 17, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT establishing the New York state commission on economic inequality, equal opportunity, and competitiveness
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative intent. It shall be the policy of New York state to work toward reducing economic inequality, eliminating poverty, achieving equal opportunity and full employment, and boosting economic competitiveness and growth for the purpose of justice, equality, democracy, fairness, the general welfare, and strengthening the economy of New York state.
§ 2. A temporary state commission, to be known as the New York state commission on economic inequality, equal opportunity, and competitiveness, is hereby created to investigate, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning how to work toward, in New York state, reducing economic inequality, eliminating poverty, achieving equal opportunity and full employment, and boosting economic competitiveness and growth.
§ 3. (a) The commission shall consist of seventeen members, to be appointed as follows: nine members to be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be the chair; three members to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; one member appointed by the senate minority leader; three members appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and one member appointed by the assembly minority leader.
(b) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this act. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions and fix their compensation within the amounts made available by appropriation therefor.
§ 4. The commission shall investigate:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13383-02-9
S. 6580 2
(a) How to work toward reducing economic inequality in New York state by exploring various topics, including but not limited to:
(1) income inequality;
(2) wealth inequality;
(3) the shrinking middle class;
(4) impacts of the Great Recession;
(5) impacts of tax policy and other related policies;
(6) minimum wage, wage policies and workers' bargaining power; and
(7) the economic and social impact of economic inequality, including as it relates to race, class, gender, age, national origin, and sexual orientation.
(b) How to work toward eliminating poverty in New York state by examining various topics, including but not limited to:
(1) class, race, gender, and poverty;
(2) homelessness;
(3) children and families in poverty;
(4) senior citizens;
(5) education;
(6) nutrition and health;
(7) alcohol and drug addiction;
(8) criminal justice;
(9) safety nets; and
(10) employment.
(c) How to work toward achieving equal opportunity in New York state by examining various topics, including but not limited to:
(1) class, race, gender, and equal opportunity;
(2) employment;
(3) education;
(4) access to capital; and
(5) access to housing, loans, transportation, banking, insurance and various economic areas.
(d) How to work toward achieving full employment in New York state by examining various topics, including but not limited to:
(1) education;
(2) workforce training;
(3) employment opportunities;
(4) wages and livable income; and
(5) entrepreneurialism.
(e) How to boost economic competitiveness and economic growth in New York state by examining various topics, including but not limited to:
(1) education;
(2) workforce development;
(3) tax policy, health care policy, and other policies;
(4) impacts of international trade;
(5) the manufacturing sector; and
(6) emerging technologies and high tech.
§ 5. (a) For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission may meet and hold public and/or private hearings within or without the state, and shall have all the powers of a legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law. The commission is authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses it may deem relevant through its own personnel or in cooperation with or by agreement with any other public or private agency.
(b) To the maximum extent feasible, the commission may request and shall be entitled to receive and shall utilize and be provided with such facilities, resources and data from any court in the state and from any
S. 6580 3
subdivision, department, board, bureau, commission, office, agency or other instrumentality of the state or of any political subdivision thereof as it deems necessary or desirable for the proper execution of its powers and duties and to effectuate the purposes set forth in this act.
(c) The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into any agreements and to do and perform any acts that may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives of this act.
§ 6. The commission shall make recommendations and a report of its findings. The commission shall submit such recommendations and report, including any recommendations for legislative action as it may deem necessary and appropriate, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and make public online on the governor's website no later than December first, two thousand twenty.
§ 7. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act establishing the New York state commission on economic inequality, equal opportunity, and competitiveness
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would establish the New York State Commission on Economic Inequality, Equal Opportunity, and Competitiveness.
Summary of specific provisions
Section One: Legislative Intent.
Section 2: Establish the temporary New York State Commission on Economic Inequality, Equal Opportunity, and Competitiveness.
Section 3: Commission composition. 17 members. Section 4: Topics of investigation.
Economic inequality; Poverty; Equal opportunity; Full employment; and Economic competitiveness and growth.
Section 5: The commission may hold public hearings and to undertake studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses it may deem relevant.
Section 6: Make recommendations and issue a report of its findings.
Section 7: Effective date.
Justification
The United States and New York State have been going through increasing economic inequality for decades with fewer and fewer people and corporations controlling more and more of the wealth. The American middle-class, the foundation of a vibrant democracy and strong economy, is shrinking. This trend threatens to undermine the pillars of democracy, equality and justice if not checked. Under this legislation, it shall be the policy of New York State to work toward reducing econom- ic inequality, eliminating poverty, achieving equal opportunity and full employment, and boosting economic competitiveness and growth for the purpose of justice, equality, democracy, fairness, the general welfare, and strengthening the economy of New YorkState. This bill would estab- lish the New York State Commission on Economic Inequality, Equal Oppor- tunity, and Competitiveness.
Prior legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.