Obligation to affirmatively further fair housing

§ 600. Obligation to affirmatively further fair housing. 1. For the purposes of this section, the term "covered housing agency" shall mean any state department, agency or office administering housing and community development laws or housing and community development programs including but not limited to New York state homes and community renewal, the division of housing and community renewal, the New York state housing finance agency, the affordable housing corporation, the housing trust fund corporation, the municipal bond bank agency, the state of New York mortgage agency, any subsidiary of the foregoing agencies, any public housing agency, and any localities receiving funds from any state department, agency or office to administer programs or activities related to housing and community development.

2. The commissioner and all covered housing agencies shall administer all such programs and activities related to housing and community development in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing and shall cooperate with the commissioner to further such purpose.

3. The commissioner and all covered housing agencies shall take meaningful actions to:

(a) identify and overcome patterns of residential segregation and housing discrimination;

(b) eradicate racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty;

(c) reduce disparities in access to opportunity;

(d) eliminate disproportionate housing needs;

(e) provide the public reasonable and regular opportunities to comment on fair housing issues and participate in the development and advancement of affirmative fair housing policy; and

(f) encourage and maintain compliance with article fifteen of the executive law and any other applicable anti-discrimination or fair housing law.

4. The commissioner and all covered housing agencies shall take no action that is materially inconsistent with the obligation of this section.

5. The commissioner shall:

(a) on or before February first of two thousand twenty-two, and each fifth year thereafter, produce a draft report that shall be made available to the public. The report shall include any significant initiatives, policies, or programs undertaken in furtherance of fair housing and any recommendations for improving the state of fair housing in New York. The draft report shall be open to a minimum of twenty-one days of public comment. The commissioner shall, on or before March tenth of each year that such report is due, submit the final version of said report to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, and the temporary president of the senate. The commissioner shall submit along with the final report, all comments received pursuant to the public comment period; and

(b) on or before February first of every second and fourth year following the issuance of the full report required pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision, prepare an interim report explaining any progress or significant changes to recommendations included in such full report and detailing any new significant initiatives, policies, or programs that have been undertaken in furtherance of fair housing. The interim report shall be submitted to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, and the temporary president of the senate.