S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8861
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
December 22, 2017
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Introduced by M. of A. GALEF, McDONALD -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law and the legislative law, in relation
to requiring the division of human rights to develop and implement a
uniform sexual harassment policy for all state agencies, offices and
departments, the executive department, and the legislature
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 295 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 17 to read as follows:
17. TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A UNIFORM SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY FOR
ALL EMPLOYEES OF STATE AGENCIES, OFFICES, DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, AND OFFICIALS, MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE LEGIS-
LATURE. SUCH POLICY SHALL DEFINE THE CONDUCT WHICH IS PROHIBITED, ESTAB-
LISH A PROCESS FOR THE RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS OF SUCH CONDUCT, AND
PROVIDE FOR APPROPRIATE TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES OF STATE AGENCIES,
OFFICES, DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, AND OFFICIALS,
MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE LEGISLATURE. COPIES OF THE SEXUAL HARASS-
MENT POLICY PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE DISTRIB-
UTED TO ALL EMPLOYEES OF STATE AGENCIES, OFFICES, DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING
THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, AND OFFICIALS, MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE
LEGISLATURE AND SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. SUCH POLICY SHALL
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: A STANDARD REPORTING REQUIREMENT,
REQUIRING AN INVESTIGATION WHICH TAKES NO MORE THAN NINETY DAYS FROM THE
COMMENCEMENT OF THE COMPLAINT AND A DETERMINATION BY THE DIVISION NO
MORE THAN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF SUCH INVESTIGATION; AND
PROVIDING THAT ANY CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT IN OR IN CONNECTION WITH,
OR COLLATERAL TO, A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT INVOLVING A CLAIM OF SEXUAL
HARASSMENT OR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IS AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY AND IS VOID AND
UNENFORCEABLE.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13876-02-7
A. 8861 2
§ 2. The legislative law is amended by adding a new section 33-a to
read as follows:
§ 33-A. SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY. EVERY MEMBER, OFFICER AND EMPLOYEE
OF THE LEGISLATURE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE UNIFORM SEXUAL HARASSMENT
POLICY DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS PURSU-
ANT TO SUBDIVISION SEVENTEEN OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THE
EXECUTIVE LAW.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately. Effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.