BILL NUMBER: S2921B
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to gender
balance in state and local public authorities; and providing for the
repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
To provide gender balance in the appointment of members to appointed
positions of state and local public authorities, industrial development
agencies and local development corporations.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the public authorities law by adding a new section 2829
to provide that all appointments to appointive state and local public
authorities shall be gender balanced, to the extent practicable.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York is behind when compared nationally and globally on correcting
the leadership gap between women and men. Although women make up more
than half of New York's population, they make up an underwhelming 22% of
positions on state boards.
To address the gender gap in New York, this bill would require appoint-
ing powers to ensure public authorities, industrial development agen-
cies, and local development corporations are gender balanced by appoint-
ing an equal number of women and men to serve, to the extent practica-
ble. The bill also provides measures appointing powers would be able to
follow in the event boardmake-up cannot be comprised of 50% women and
50% men.
While legislation addressing women on boards and women in the workforce
is more common outside of the United States, it is imperative that we
use these successful models to effectively increase the diversity of
boards across the state.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023: Passed Assembly; 3rd Reading Senate
 
FISCAL IMPACT ON TILE STATE:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect August 1, 2024 and shall expire on August 1,
2034.