S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6170
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 8, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, the executive law and the labor
law, in relation to prohibiting discrimination against religious
attire
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 40-c of the civil rights law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. NO PERSON SHALL, ON ACCOUNT OF BEING ATTIRED IN RELIGIOUSLY MOTI-
VATED OR MANDATED GARB OR APPURTENANCES THERETO, INCLUDING FACIAL HAIR,
PROVIDED THAT SUCH ATTIRE DOES NOT POSE A DANGER OR HAZARD TO SUCH
PERSON OR OTHER PERSONS AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IN THE CASE OF
PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, THE PROHIBITION AGAINST ANY SUCH ATTIRE THAT
COVERS THE FACE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE DISCRIMINATION UNDER THIS SECTION,
BE SUBJECTED TO ANY DISCRIMINATION IN HIS OR HER CIVIL RIGHTS, OR TO ANY
HARASSMENT, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 240.25 OF THE PENAL LAW, IN THE EXER-
CISE THEREOF, BY ANY OTHER PERSON OR BY ANY FIRM, CORPORATION OR INSTI-
TUTION, OR BY THE STATE OR ANY AGENCY OR SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE.
S 2. Subdivision 1 of section 296 of the executive law is amended by
adding a new paragraph (h) to read as follows:
(H) FOR ANY EMPLOYER, LABOR ORGANIZATION OR EMPLOYMENT AGENCY TO
DISCHARGE, EXPEL OR OTHERWISE DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY PERSON ATTIRED IN
RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED OR MANDATED GARB OR APPURTENANCES THERETO, INCLUD-
ING FACIAL HAIR; PROVIDED THAT SUCH ATTIRE DOES NOT POSE A DANGER OR
HAZARD TO SUCH PERSON OR OTHER PERSONS AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IN
THE CASE OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, THE PROHIBITION AGAINST ANY SUCH
ATTIRE THAT COVERS THE FACE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE DISCRIMINATION UNDER
THIS SECTION.
S 3. Subdivision 2-a of section 296 of the executive law is amended by
adding a new paragraph (b-1) to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08867-03-1
A. 6170 2
(B-1) TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY PERSON ATTIRED IN RELIGIOUS GARB OR
CLOTHING, AS SUCH TERM IS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (H) OF SUBDIVISION ONE
OF THIS SECTION;
S 4. Subdivisions (c), (d) and (e) of section 220-e of the labor law
are relettered subdivisions (d), (e) and (f) and a new subdivision (c)
is added to read as follows:
(C) THAT NO CONTRACTOR, SUBCONTRACTOR, NOR ANY PERSON ON HIS BEHALF
SHALL, IN ANY MANNER, DISCRIMINATE AGAINST OR INTIMIDATE ANY EMPLOYEE
HIRED FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF WORK UNDER THIS CONTRACT FOR BEING ATTIRED
IN RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED OR MANDATED GARB OR APPURTENANCES THERETO,
INCLUDING FACIAL HAIR, PROVIDED THAT SUCH ATTIRE DOES NOT POSE A DANGER
OR HAZARD TO SUCH PERSON OR OTHER PERSONS AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IN
THE CASE OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, THE PROHIBITION AGAINST ANY SUCH
ATTIRE THAT COVERS THE FACE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE DISCRIMINATION UNDER
THIS SECTION;
S 5. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 239 of the labor law are renum-
bered subdivisions 4 and 5 and a new subdivision 3 is added to read as
follows:
(3) THAT NO CONTRACTOR, SUBCONTRACTOR, NOR ANY PERSON ON HIS BEHALF
SHALL, IN ANY MANNER, DISCRIMINATE AGAINST OR INTIMIDATE ANY EMPLOYEE
HIRED FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF WORK UNDER THIS CONTRACT FOR BEING ATTIRED
IN RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED OR MANDATED GARB OR APPURTENANCES THERETO,
INCLUDING FACIAL HAIR, PROVIDED THAT SUCH ATTIRE DOES NOT POSE A DANGER
OR HAZARD TO SUCH PERSON OR OTHER PERSONS AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IN
THE CASE OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, THE PROHIBITION AGAINST ANY SUCH
ATTIRE THAT COVERS THE FACE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE DISCRIMINATION UNDER
THIS SECTION;
S 6. This act shall take effect immediately.