BLACK LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL S.B. 840:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 840 (as reported without amendment)
CONTENT
The bill would enact the Black Leadership Advisory Council Act to create the Black Leadership Advisory Council (BLAC), prescribe its membership, and generally require it to do the following:
-- Develop, review, and recommend to the Governor policies and actions designed to eradicate and prevent discrimination and racial inequity in the State, including in the areas of health care, housing, education, employment, economic opportunity, public accommodations, and procurement.
-- Serve as a resource for community groups on issues, programs, sources of funding, and compliance requirements in State government to benefit and advance the interests of the Black community.
-- Provide other information or advice or take other actions as requested by the Governor.
BRIEF RATIONALE
Executive Order (EO) 2020-163 created BLAC in the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). According to testimony, BLAC has effectively acted in an advisory capacity to the Governor since 2020, and so some have suggested codifying BLAC into statute to allow for the continuation of its mission. Without codification, a future EO could terminate BLAC.
Legislative Analyst: Nathan Leaman
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would increase costs to LEO and have no fiscal impact on local units of government. The Department would experience additional costs for staff to support BLAC. Advisory councils can be supported with 1 to 3 full-time equivalent positions and $150,000 to $400,000 depending on the level of support that is needed. The bill would require LEO to provide BLAC with the staff necessary to support it. This would mean if additional appropriations were not provided to LEO, then LEO would have to move staff and appropriations from other areas of LEO.
Date Completed: 6-10-24 Fiscal Analyst: Cory Savino, PhD
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.