N.Y. Executive Law § 94-b: Office for new Americans

§ 94-b. Office for new Americans. 1. Legislative intent. The

legislature hereby finds and declares that, according to the 2010

census, approximately twenty-two percent of New Yorkers were not born in

the United States, nine percent above the national average. For years

immigrants have come to the United States to make a better life for

themselves. It is of utmost importance to the state that these new

Americans be given the tools to assist them in making a better life for

themselves, particularly through programs that help develop and leverage

their skills and strengthen their connections with their communities and

through programs to reduce exploitation of vulnerable immigrant

populations.

2. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the terms "new

American" and "immigrant" shall refer to non-citizen domicilaries of New

York state whose country of origin is other than the United States.

3. Office for new Americans; director. There is hereby created within

the department of state the office for new Americans. The secretary

shall appoint a director of the office to accomplish the

responsibilities set forth in this section. Such director shall receive

an annual salary within amounts appropriated and shall serve at the

pleasure of the secretary.

4. Organization of the office for new Americans. The secretary shall

have the power to establish, consolidate, reorganize, or abolish any

organizational units within the office as he or she determines to be

necessary for efficient operation thereof. The secretary shall assign

functions to any such unit and may appoint staff, agents, and

consultants, prescribe their duties, and fix their compensation within

amounts appropriated.

5. Powers and duties of the office for new Americans. The office for

new Americans shall have the power and responsibility to:

(a) Create a network of neighborhood-based opportunity centers;

(b) Increase access to English-for-speakers-of-other-languages (ESOL)

training, including by engaging not-for-profit organizations and other

qualified providers of ESOL training services;

(c) Assist immigrants in matters relating to immigration status,

including but not limited to assisting with the naturalization process

and applications for deferred action for childhood arrivals;

(d) Connect immigrants to business resources that harness their

skills, employment referral programs, and other workforce development

programs;

(e) Develop and leverage the skills of immigrants to benefit their

communities and the state;

(f) Strengthen the connections between immigrants and their

communities through civic engagement;

(g) Reduce exploitation of immigrants;

(h) Establish a toll-free multi-lingual hotline and a website for

purposes including but not limited to dissemination of information about

the programs and services offered by the office for new Americans,

referral for services, and receipt of complaints relating to fraud and

other related crimes against immigrants;

(i) Ensure that individuals referred by the office are directed to

service providers who are in compliance with article twenty-eight-C of

the general business law or providers certified by the bureau of

immigration appeals;

(j) Using information developed by the office through the hotline,

assist law enforcement in combatting crimes against immigrants;

(k) Advise the governor and secretary concerning matters affecting

immigrants in the state in order to promote and encourage the full

participation of immigrants in the state's civic and economic life;

(l) Coordinate with other state agencies and otherwise marshal the

resources of the state to serve the needs of immigrants;

(m) Encourage and assist local governments in the development of

activities to enhance civic engagement among immigrants and in immigrant

communities;

(n) Beginning in two thousand fifteen, by June fifteenth of each year,

produce a report to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, and the

temporary president of the senate describing the activities of the

office, including but not limited to, summarizing calls received through

the hotline and website, information on ESOL training services provided

by the office, the number of immigrants assisted through the opportunity

centers, or an estimation thereof, the status of any workforce

development programs, and any other relevant information;

(o) Encourage the development of and provide for the establishment of

a state military immigrant family legacy program liaison, as provided in

section twenty-nine-b of the veterans' services law; and

(p) Request individuals seeking assistance from the office answer the

following questions: "Have you served in the United States military?"

"Has someone in your family served in the United States military?"

Individuals identifying themselves or a family member as "intended

recipients" of the staff sergeant Alex R. Jimenez New York state

military immigrant family legacy program as such term is defined in

paragraph (e) of subdivision one of section twenty-nine-b of the

veterans' services law, shall be advised of such program. In addition,

such individuals shall be informed that the department of veterans'

services and local veterans' service agencies established pursuant to

section seventeen of the veterans' services law provide assistance to

uniformed service members, veterans and their families regarding

benefits available under federal and state law. Information regarding

veterans and military status provided by assisted individuals shall be

protected as personal confidential material, and used only to identify

such individuals as "intended recipients" of the staff sergeant Alex R.

Jimenez New York State military immigrant family legacy program, and to

assist such individuals in matters relating to immigration status and

citizenship, and in referring such individuals to the department of

veterans' services or local veterans' service agencies for information

and assistance with regard to benefits and entitlements under federal

and state law.