Legislation S.4266-A/A.5088-A Establishes Task Force on Missing Women and Girls Who Are Black, Indigenous or People of Color
Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation S.4266-A/A.5088-A to establish a task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous and people of color. Statistics from the FBI's National Crime Information Center show that of the more than 271,000 missing women and girls reported in 2022, 43 percent were Black, Indigenous or people of color. This task force, which was funded through an appropriation included in the FY24 Enacted Budget, will consider policy changes to address this crisis.
“Public safety is my top priority, and I'm committed to doing everything in my power to protect all New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "The statistics are alarming: thousands of women and girls who are Black, Indigenous or people of color go missing every year. We have a moral obligation to treat these cases with the care and seriousness they deserve, and this new Task Force will be a critical part of that effort."
The Missing BIPOC Women and Girls Task Force will work to assess the epidemic of missing women and girls, address discrepancies in the care with which these cases are treated and develop policies to increase community education. The Task Force will have nine members, including representatives of the Office of Family and Children's Services, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the New York State Police and members appointed by the Senate and Assembly. Hearings will be required, and the Task Force must submit a report of its findings and recommendations within two years.
State Senator Lea Webb said, “A staggering number of BIPOC Women and Girls go missing each year across the US and here in New York State the numbers keep rising. This legislation will establish a task force to address this gap in care and concern for BIPOC victims of abduction and human trafficking. This taskforce will focus on educating communities to prevent disappearances, identify the major hubs across New York where abductions occur, and implement other equitable policies and practices on this important issue. I thank my Assembly partner, Assemblywoman Karines Reyes for her efforts to pass this critical bill and our community advocates. By signing our BIPOC Task Force legislation, Governor Hochul is helping to take important steps toward a safer New York for all women and girls, addressing the epidemic of BIPOC missing and murdered women and girls.”
Assemblymember Karines Reyes said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for her leadership and courage in signing this bill into law today. Women and girls of color face a systemic disregard of their cases when they go missing, from law enforcement’s delayed response in addressing these cases and the media’s disinterest in promoting the fact that they are missing. This new law will establish a task force to fully understand the gaps that exist in our state’s response in these cases, allow us to understand best practices and ensure that more of these cases are resolved. If followed through, we can return more women and girls of color to their families and provide them with closure. I am thankful for the partnership of Senator Webb on getting this bill passed into law, former Senator Alessandra Biaggi for first entrusting me with this bill in the Assembly in 2021, and most importantly for the advocacy of Dawn Rowe and Girl Vow for highlighting this critically important issue. Together, we will bring back our girls.”
Girl Vow, Inc., President & CEO, Dawn Rowe said, “Today is a historic moment for BIPOC women and girls whose stories and lives have been pushed into the shadows. You are no longer silent. We speak for you with urgency to push past disparities and gendered racism until you find safety. This legislation to establish a task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color seeks to remedy the structural harms we have faced for far too long. From this day forward, we work to shatter the barriers until you have visibility.”