S 2602: Establishes the office of Native American affairs to act as a centralized office for Native American nations to access information on state programs that are provided to Native Americans.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2602 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE January 21, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- 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 such commissioner's actual and necessary expenses 15 in the performance of such commissioner's 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 such commissioner may deem necessary, 19 prescribe their duties, fix their compensation, and provide for the 20 reimbursement of their expenses, all within amounts made available 21 therefor by appropriation. 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: EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD03206-01-5 
 S. 2602 2 1 1. Act as a centralized office for Native American nations to access 2 information on state programs that are provided to Native Americans. 3 2. Develop and maintain cooperative relationships between New York 4 state's Native nations, Native organizations, Native American citizens, 5 and the state. 6 3. Establish, manage, coordinate, and facilitate Native American-re- 7 lated policies, positions, and programs. 8 4. Advise and assist state agencies in developing policies, plans, and 9 programs for Native Americans. 10 5. Serve as a connector for New York state's Native nations to other 11 state agencies and programs. 12 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 13 it shall have become a law.