Diversity

The Commission on Increasing Diversity in the State Government Workforce has prepared a draft of a report analyzing the roles and responsibilities of Affirmative Action Officers in New York State.

The Commission is seeking public comments and suggestions on the draft report, whether favorable, adverse, or otherwise, as soon as possible. The comment deadline is Monday, March 15, 2010. The Commission will also hold a public hearing on the draft report in Albany, New York on Wednesday, April 21, 2010.

For a copy of this report, please go to the following website:

http://www.cs.state.ny.us/pio/information.cfm

In 2006 Assemblyman Peter M. Rivera introduced a package of legislation addressing the clear underrepresentation of minorities in the workforce of NYS Government.

One bill became law and created a commission to make three reports. The first was to be a set of recommendations to addressing agency failure to diversify and provide equal opportunity. The next two reports are to examine how the recommendations were adopted, if at all.

If history teaches us anything, its that the status quo will fight any changes. However, we have a great opportunity to, with the release of the first report (public comment and hearing are scheduled), to push for substantial changes to the biased behavior of agency supervisors when it comes to the hiring and promotions of minorities.

The Commission is now under the direction of Mr. Theodore K. Chang, Esq. Mr. Chang took over late last year and has moved quickly to complete the work of the commission.

All thee reports were to be finished by now under the new law. Mr. Chang has moved diligently to request that all commission members participate and slots open be filled. Presently, two slots appointed by the Assembly have yet to be filled since 1997.

The ball is now on the court of those that want change to happen. Deadlines below are extremely important. Thank you.

Guillermo A. Martinez
Legislative &Communications Director
Office Of Assemblyman Peter M. Rivera

COMMISSION ON INCREASING DIVERSITY IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE

January 11, 2010

TO THE PUBLIC:

Draft Report on the Roles and Responsibilities of Affirmative Action Officers in
New York State

The Commission on Increasing Diversity in the State Government Workforce (the
�Commission�) has prepared a draft of a report analyzing the roles and responsibilities of
Affirmative Action Officers in New York State to be circulated to the public for comment. For
the convenience of the Commission, the draft report will be posted on the website of the New
York State Department of Civil Service at: http://www.cs.state.ny.us/pio/information.cfm.

Opportunity for Public Comment

Please provide any comments and suggestions on the draft report, whether favorable,
adverse, or otherwise, as soon as possible. The comment deadline is Monday, March 15,
2010. Comments, suggestions, or other correspondence may be submitted electronically to
Allison E. Meyer, Esq., the Commission Secretary, at ameyer@proskauer.com or sent in hard
copy to the Secretary�s attention at Proskauer Rose LLP, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York
10036-8299. The Commission will review all timely comments. All comments will be made a
part of the official record of the Commission�s work and will be made available to the public.

The Commission will also hold a public hearing on the draft report in Albany, New York
on Wednesday, April 21, 2010. The time and exact location will be announced at a later date.
If you wish to testify, you must contact the Commission Secretary in writing no later than
Monday, March 31, 2010, identifying yourself and including a statement of reason for why you
wish to be heard, along with a concise written signed statement of any information or testimony
intended for presentation at the hearing. The selection of the witnesses and the time allotted to
each at the hearing are committed to the sole discretion of the Commission.

After the conclusion of the public comment period, the Commission will review and
consider the comments and suggestions it has received and, thereafter, issue its final report.

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