S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2617
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 26, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to defining retaliatory
acts in the workplace and establishing an affirmative defense
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 296 of the executive law, as
amended by chapter 140 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as
follows:
7. It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person
engaged in any activity to which this section applies to retaliate or
discriminate against any person because he or she has opposed any prac-
tices forbidden under this article or because he or she has filed a
complaint, testified or assisted in any proceeding under this article.
Retaliation may include, but is not limited to[,]: (A) disclosing an
employee's personnel files because he or she has opposed any practices
forbidden under this article or because he or she has filed a complaint,
testified or assisted in any proceeding under this article, [except
where] PROVIDED THAT AN EMPLOYER MAY RAISE AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE THAT
such disclosure is made in the course of commencing or responding to a
complaint in any proceeding under this article or any other civil or
criminal action or other judicial or administrative proceeding as
permitted by applicable law; OR (B) TREATING AN EMPLOYEE LESS FAVORABLY
THAN ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE, PROVIDED THAT AN EMPLOYER MAY RAISE AN AFFIRMA-
TIVE DEFENSE THAT: (I) THE EMPLOYER PLANNED TO DEMOTE, DISCHARGE, OR
PENALIZE THE EMPLOYEE PRIOR TO LEARNING THAT THE EMPLOYEE HAD OPPOSED A
PRACTICE FORBIDDEN UNDER THIS ARTICLE OR THE EMPLOYEE HAD FILED A
COMPLAINT, TESTIFIED OR ASSISTED IN A PROCEEDING UNDER THIS ARTICLE, OR
(II) THE EMPLOYER PROVES THAT ITS TREATMENT OF THE AGGRIEVED EMPLOYEE
OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION TO THE EMPLOYEE'S OPPOSITION TO A
PRACTICE FORBIDDEN UNDER THIS ARTICLE OR THE EMPLOYEE'S FILING OF A
COMPLAINT, TESTIFYING OR ASSISTING IN A PROCEEDING UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06967-01-3