Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to sign legislation Tuesday which would create a community commission that would look into potential slavery reparation remedies, according to the bill’s sponsor, state Assembly Member Michaelle Solages.
The commission would be tasked with studying the state’s history of slavery and how to repair its lasting impacts on descendants of enslaved New Yorkers. Slavery remained legal in New York until 1827.
The commission would be comprised of nine members with three members chosen by each the governor, state Assembly Speaker and majority leader of the state Senate. The members would have to submit a report of their findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than one year after the date of the commission’s first meeting.