STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8435 IN SENATE January 29, 2024 ___________ Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the office of Native American affairs The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 15-D 2 to read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 15-D 4 OFFICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS 5 Section 328-d. Office of Native American affairs. 6 328-e. General functions, powers and duties. 7 § 328-d. Office of Native American affairs. 1. There is hereby created 8 in the executive department an office of Native American affairs. The 9 head of the office shall be the commissioner of Native American affairs 10 who shall be appointed by the governor and who shall hold office at the 11 pleasure of the governor. 12 2. The commissioner shall receive an annual salary to be fixed by the 13 governor within the amount made available therefor by an appropriation 14 and shall be allowed his or her actual and necessary expenses in the 15 performance of his or her duties. 16 3. The commissioner shall direct the work of the office and shall be 17 the chief executive officer of the office. The commissioner may appoint 18 such officers and employees as he or she may deem necessary, prescribe 19 their duties, fix their compensation, and provide for the reimbursement 20 of their expenses, all within amounts made available therefor by appro- 21 priation. 22 § 328-e. General functions, powers and duties. The office of Native 23 American affairs by and through the commissioner or such commissioner's 24 duly authorized officers and employees, shall: 25 1. Act as a centralized office for Native American nations to access 26 information on state programs that are provided to Native Americans. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD04387-04-4

S. 8435 2 1 2. Develop and maintain cooperative relationships between New York 2 state's Native nations, Native organization, Native American citizens, 3 and the state. 4 3. Establish, manage, coordinate, and facilitate Native American-re- 5 lated policies, positions, and programs. 6 4. Advise and assist state agencies in developing policies, plans, and 7 programs for Native Americans. 8 5. Serve as a connector for New York state's Native nations to other 9 state agencies and programs. 10 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 11 it shall have become a law.

Establishes the office of Native American affairs

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