Bill > A06341

This bill requires state agencies, boards, departments, and commissions that collect demographic data on ancestry or ethnic origin to use separate categories and tabulations for various "Afro groups" in New York State, including "Descendant of a person enslaved in the United States" (defined as individuals historically classified with terms like Negro, Colored, Mulatto, Black, Black-American, and African-American who had at least one ancestor enslaved in the U.S.), "Continental African" (individuals with ancestry or citizenship from African countries), "Afro-Caribbean" (individuals with ancestry or citizenship from Caribbean countries), "Central and South American Afro-Latino" (individuals with ancestry or citizenship from Central and South American countries), and "Other afro groups" for those who identify as having African ancestry but don't fit the other categories. Additionally, it mandates the collection of data on the primary language spoken at home and the ethnic group or ancestry, with the collected data to be included in demographic reports and made publicly accessible online by July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, while keeping personal identifying information confidential. This initiative aims to provide a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the diverse Black and African-descended populations in New York, addressing the limitations of broader, less specific demographic categories that have historically obscured distinct community needs and experiences, and aligns with recent federal and state efforts to disaggregate demographic data for better representation and targeted policy-making.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6341