S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8344
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             October 20, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Governmental Operations
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  state law, in relation to removing the words "E
   pluribus unum" from the motto on the arms and flag of the state
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  70  of the state law, as amended by section 1 of
 part U of chapter 58 of the laws of 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   § 70. Description of the arms of the state and  the  state  flag.  The
 device  of  arms  of  this  state  is  hereby  declared  to be correctly
 described as follows:
   Charge. Azure, in a landscape, the sun in fess, rising in splendor or,
 behind a range of three mountains, the middle one the highest; in base a
 ship and sloop under sail,  passing  and  about  to  meet  on  a  river,
 bordered below by a grassy shore fringed with shrubs, all proper.
   Crest.  On  a wreath azure and or, an American eagle proper, rising to
 the dexter from a two-thirds of a globe terrestrial, showing  the  north
 Atlantic ocean with outlines of its shores.
   Supporters.  On  a  quasi  compartment  formed by the extension of the
 scroll.
   Dexter. The figure of Liberty proper, her hair  disheveled  and  deco-
 rated with pearls, vested azure, sandaled gules, about the waist a cinc-
 ture  or,  fringed gules, a mantle of the last depending from the shoul-
 ders behind to the feet, in the dexter hand  a  staff  ensigned  with  a
 Phrygian  cap  or,  the  sinister  arm  embowed, the hand supporting the
 shield at the dexter chief point, a royal crown  by  her  sinister  foot
 dejected.
   Sinister.  The figure of Justice proper, her hair disheveled and deco-
 rated with pearls, vested or, about the waist a cincture azure,  fringed
 gules,  sandaled  and  mantled  as  Liberty, bound about the eyes with a
 fillet proper, in the dexter hand a straight  sword  hilted  or,  erect,

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13106-02-1
              

 A. 8344                             2
 
 resting  on  the  sinister  chief  point of the shield, the sinister arm
 embowed, holding before her her scales proper.
   Motto.  On  a scroll below the shield argent, in sable, [two lines. On
 line one,] Excelsior [and on line two, E pluribus unum].
   State flag. The state flag is hereby declared to be blue, charged with
 the arms of the state in the colors as described in the blazon  of  this
 section.
   §  2.  (a) Any state flag, object, or printed materials containing the
 depiction of the former arms of the state may continue to be used  until
 such  flag, object, or printed materials' useful  life  has  expired  or
 until  the  person  possessing  such   flag, object, or printed material
 replaces it. Such continued use shall  not  constitute  a  violation  of
 section seventy-two of the state law.
   (b) Any electronic depiction of the arms of the state shall be updated
 within 60 days of the effective date of this act.
   (c)  No  state  agency, local government, or public authority shall be
 required  to replace a flag solely because such flag contains the former
 arms of the state.
   § 3. The secretary of state shall begin to use the new seal as of  the
 effective date of this act.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it  shall  have  become  a law. Effective immediately, the department of
 state   is   authorized   to take any action,  including  entering  into
 contracts,  that  is necessary for the timely implementation of this act
 on its effective date.