A commission tasked with guiding New York’s Census preparation effort is scheduled to approve its action plan on Tuesday.

A draft copy of the panel’s report obtained by the Times Union addresses communities that need the most focus, strategies for achieving a complete count and the “vehicles” the state should use. The long awaited report was originally due in the middle of January, but the commission wasn’t even assembled at that point.

A copy of the draft is available below.

The final version may look different, as it was still undergoing additional work Sunday evening, according to an internal commission email.

The first recommendation in the draft is that the state should direct additional resources to “hard-to-count communities.” The draft also recommends developing a targeted campaign explaining the importance of the Census, an expanded use of translation services, building “trust with immigrant communities,” coordinating counting efforts with local organizations and developing consumer protection measures.

One of the major challenges for a complete count is ensuring New Yorkers are able to complete their questionnaire online, as the federal government is emphasizing this option. “It is incumbent upon the state to close the digital divide for the 2020 census,” reads the draft report.

To that end the report recommends “that the state marshal whatever resources are at its own disposal and the disposal of trusted institutions toward making the internet as accessible as possible where internet access is known to be lacking.” It’s not clear what this will mean for libraries, which have campaigned to lead this effort.

The draft report does not appear to recommend how much money should be spent on the state’s Census preparation efforts, which was required by state law, according to a press release from the Senate Democrats.

Regarding the available state funding, the draft report’s final recommendation states: “With respect to our mandate—State activities—we recommend the strategic allocation of available State financial resources, particularly the $20 million allocated in this year’s State budget, for census outreach initiatives targeting those communities most at-risk to be undercounted based upon our analysis.”

NYS Complete Count Commission Draft Report by Capitol Confidential on Scribd