NY A02689

Establishes the "Building Up Immigrant Legal Defense (BUILD) Act" to create competitive workforce development and capacity building grants beginning in 2025 for organizations expanding legal representation for individuals facing deportation

Limits eligibility to community-based organizations, nonprofits, or educational institutions already receiving Office of New Americans funding that provide immigration legal services or train individuals who provide such services

Authorizes grant funds for workforce recruitment and training programs, technical assistance, language training, leadership development, DOJ accreditation support, retention strategies, and technology infrastructure

Creates a 9-member advisory committee (5 appointed by governor, 2 each by assembly speaker and senate president) to design grant policies, set funding priorities, develop workload and compensation standards, and advise the Office of New Americans

Requires annual reports to the governor and legislature beginning September 15 of the second year after enactment, with grants awarded for 4-year renewable terms