N.Y. Public Housing Law § 600: Obligation to affirmatively further fair housing

§ 600. Obligation to affirmatively further fair housing. 1. For the

purposes of this section, the term "covered housing agency" shall mean

any state department, agency or office administering housing and

community development laws or housing and community development programs

including but not limited to New York state homes and community renewal,

the division of housing and community renewal, the New York state

housing finance agency, the affordable housing corporation, the housing

trust fund corporation, the municipal bond bank agency, the state of New

York mortgage agency, any subsidiary of the foregoing agencies, any

public housing agency, and any localities receiving funds from any state

department, agency or office to administer programs or activities

related to housing and community development.

2. The commissioner and all covered housing agencies shall administer

all such programs and activities related to housing and community

development in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing and

shall cooperate with the commissioner to further such purpose.

3. The commissioner and all covered housing agencies shall take

meaningful actions to:

(a) identify and overcome patterns of residential segregation and

housing discrimination;

(b) eradicate racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty;

(c) reduce disparities in access to opportunity;

(d) eliminate disproportionate housing needs;

(e) provide the public reasonable and regular opportunities to comment

on fair housing issues and participate in the development and

advancement of affirmative fair housing policy; and

(f) encourage and maintain compliance with article fifteen of the

executive law and any other applicable anti-discrimination or fair

housing law.

4. The commissioner and all covered housing agencies shall take no

action that is materially inconsistent with the obligation of this

section.

5. The commissioner shall:

(a) on or before February first of two thousand twenty-two, and each

fifth year thereafter, produce a draft report that shall be made

available to the public. The report shall include any significant

initiatives, policies, or programs undertaken in furtherance of fair

housing and any recommendations for improving the state of fair housing

in New York. The draft report shall be open to a minimum of twenty-one

days of public comment. The commissioner shall, on or before March tenth

of each year that such report is due, submit the final version of said

report to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, and the temporary

president of the senate. The commissioner shall submit along with the

final report, all comments received pursuant to the public comment

period; and

(b) on or before February first of every second and fourth year

following the issuance of the full report required pursuant to paragraph

(a) of this subdivision, prepare an interim report explaining any

progress or significant changes to recommendations included in such full

report and detailing any new significant initiatives, policies, or

programs that have been undertaken in furtherance of fair housing. The

interim report shall be submitted to the governor, the speaker of the

assembly, and the temporary president of the senate.