Bill > S03744

This bill aims to promote gender balance on state and local public authority boards by requiring appointing powers to consider gender when making recommendations and appointments. Specifically, the bill defines "gender balance" as providing women candidates with a preference during the appointment process, with the preference being inversely proportional to the current percentage of women on a board. Starting August 1, 2025, all state and local authorities must strive to make recommendations and appointments that are gender balanced, meaning that to the extent practicable, each recommendation and appointment should consider the current gender composition of the board. The bill requires appointing powers to make active efforts to obtain lists of qualified candidates to achieve this goal, and mandates that multiple appointing powers consult with each other to ensure compliance. Additionally, each authority must report the number of board members appointed or reappointed in the last year, including a breakdown by gender, in their annual report. The provisions of this bill will be in effect for ten years, from August 1, 2025, to August 1, 2035, after which they will automatically expire.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3744