Int. No. 65
By the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) and Council Members Cabán, Won, Louis, Restler and Bottcher
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of a task force to develop equitable responses to infectious disease related emergencies, including COVID-19
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Title 30 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new chapter 2 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2
INFECTIOUS DISEASE RELATED EMERGENCIES
§ 30-201 Task force to develop equitable responses to infectious disease related emergencies. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the term “task force” means the ensuring equity task force.
b. Task force established. There is hereby established a task force to be known as the ensuring equity task force.
c. Duties. The task force shall study racial disparities in exposure to infectious disease and related testing, treatment and outcomes citywide whenever a state disaster emergency or local state of emergency is declared in relation to an infectious disease that affects the city, and shall make recommendations for legislation and policy to mitigate and eliminate such disparities pursuant to subdivision f of this section.
d. Membership. 1. The task force shall be composed of the following members:
(a) The commissioner of health and mental hygiene or such commissioner’s designee;
(b) The commissioner of emergency management or such commissioner’s designee;
(c) The commissioner of small business services or such commissioner’s designee;
(d) The director of the mayor’s office of minority and women-owned business enterprises or such director’s designee;
(e) Five members appointed by the mayor;
(f) Two members appointed by the speaker of the council; and
(g) Two members appointed by the public advocate.
2. The public advocate shall designate a chair among the members of the task force.
3. The mayor may invite officers and representatives of relevant federal, state and local agencies and authorities to participate in the work of the task force.
4. Each member of the task force shall serve at the pleasure of the officer who appointed the member. In the event of a vacancy on the task force, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment. All members of the task force shall serve without compensation.
e. Meetings. 1. The task force shall hold at least one meeting each week for any period of time during which an executive order of the governor declares a state disaster emergency related to an infectious disease that affects the city, or an order of the mayor declares a local state of emergency related to an infectious disease. Notwithstanding the expiration of any such order, the task force shall continue to hold at least one meeting each week until the submission of a report pursuant to subdivision f of this section in connection with the originating infectious disease related emergency.
2. The task force may invite experts and stakeholders to attend its meetings and to provide testimony and information relevant to its duties.
3. Meetings may be held in person or via videoconferencing. Public access shall be granted to all meetings via videoconferencing. The minutes of such meetings shall be published on the office’s website no later than one day after each such meeting.
f. Report. 1. No later than 100 days after the task force’s first meeting after the issuance of an executive order of the governor declaring a state disaster emergency or an order of the mayor declaring a local state of emergency related to an infectious disease, the task force shall submit a report to the mayor, the speaker of the council and the public advocate setting forth its recommendations for legislation and policy relating to the mitigation and elimination of racial disparities in exposure to infectious disease and related testing, treatment and outcomes. The report shall set forth a plan to mitigate such disparities, which shall address city-provided financial support and other programs that may improve outcomes for persons affected by the disparities identified in such report. The report shall include a summary of information the task force considered in formulating its recommendations.
2. The commissioner of emergency management shall publish the task force’s report on the office’s website no later than one day after its submission to the mayor, the speaker of the council and the public advocate.
g. Agency support. Each agency shall provide appropriate staff and resources to support the work of such agency related to the task force.
h. Suspension and reinstatement. 1. The task force’s duties pursuant to subdivision c of this section and the task force’s meeting requirements pursuant to subdivision e of this section shall be suspended upon submission of a report pursuant to subdivision f of this section unless the chair of the task force determines that continued study is necessary to make further recommendations for legislation and policy to mitigate and eliminate racial disparities in infectious disease exposure and related testing, treatment and outcomes. Upon a determination by the chair that continued study is necessary, the task force shall continue to meet for a duration of time and with such frequency as the chair determines is sufficient to perform the task force’s duties, and shall prepare and submit further reports setting forth recommendations for legislation and policy as the chair determines are necessary to accomplish the task force’s objectives.
2. The task force’s duties and meeting requirements shall be reinstated whenever the governor issues an executive order declaring a state disaster emergency related to an infectious disease that affects the city, or whenever the mayor issues an order declaring a local state of emergency related to an infectious disease.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately, and all appointments required by this local law shall be made no later than 60 days after such date.
Session 12
NLB
LS 4464
1/10/22
Session 11
NC
LS #14672
Int. #1988-2020