NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8517A

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 28, 2026	print number 8517a
Apr 28, 2026	amend (t) and recommit to finance
Jan 07, 2026	referred to finance
Oct 01, 2025	referred to rules

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S8517 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §294-b, Exec L

2025-S8517 - Summary

Requires the state to participate in the United Nations human rights council's universal periodic review by submitting a report in the capacity of a subnational stakeholder.

2025-S8517 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8517

SPONSOR: BRISPORT
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the depart-
ment of state to participate in the United Nations for certain purposes
where the federal government has disengaged

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends the executive law by creating a new section 111 call-
ing for the department of state to participate in the United Nations'
Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review to the fullest extent
possible when the federal government disengages from and until the
federal government reengages with such review.

Section two sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Since 2011, the United States has participated in the Universal Periodic

Review (UPR) process, which requires governments to report to the United
Nations on how human rights are being upheld at the federal, state, and
local level. While the federal government is responsible for compiling
the national report, state and local governments provide essential
information to ensure that what is submitted reflects realities on the
ground.

However, the United States has now withdrawn from participating in the
UPR process, placing it on track to be the first country to miss a
required review. This undermines global human rights accountability and
gives cover to countries with far worse records to avoid scrutiny.

As home to the United Nations headquarters and one of the most diverse
states in the country, New York has the unique responsibility and oppor-
tunity to serve as a leader in the improvement of human rights at home.
We are positioned to provide meaningful data on multiple issues such as
housing, policing and corrections, education, public health, and other
areas that directly affect the daily lives of our residents and reflect
how we are meeting our nation's human rights commitments.

Collecting and sharing this information for the universal periodic
review will not only help the federal government meet its treaty obli-
gations, but will also strengthen New York's own legislative process. It
will raise awareness among state and local officials about human rights,
help us assess how our policies measure up to international standards,
and encourage agencies to integrate human rights principles into their
work.  This bill ensures that New York does its part in upholding human
rights while also improving the way we serve our residents here at home,
particularly in moments when the federal government reduces its commit-
ment in this area and until it renews its obligation.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S8517 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8517
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              October 1, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. BRISPORT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the  depart-
   ment  of  state  to  participate  in  the  United  Nations for certain
   purposes where the federal government has disengaged

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 111 to
 read as follows:
   §  111.  PARTICIPATION  IN  THE UNITED NATIONS. THE STATE, THROUGH THE
 DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SHALL  PARTICIPATE  IN  THE  UNITED  NATIONS  HUMAN
 RIGHTS  COUNCIL'S  UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
 HAS DISENGAGED FROM SUCH REVIEW. THE STATE SHALL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE
 TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
 REENGAGES WITH SUCH REVIEW.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13663-01-5

2025-S8517A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §294-b, Exec L

2025-S8517A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the state to participate in the United Nations human rights council's universal periodic review by submitting a report in the capacity of a subnational stakeholder.

2025-S8517A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8517--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              October 1, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. BRISPORT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules  --  recommitted  to
   the  Committee  on Finance in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 --
   committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended  and
   recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the division
   of  human  rights  to  participate  in  the United Nations for certain
   purposes
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 294-b
 to read as follows:
   § 294-B.   PARTICIPATION IN  THE  UNITED  NATIONS  UNIVERSAL  PERIODIC
 REVIEW.  1.  THE  STATE,  THROUGH THE DIVISION, SHALL PARTICIPATE IN THE
 UNITED NATIONS HUMAN  RIGHTS  COUNCIL'S  UNIVERSAL  PERIODIC  REVIEW  BY
 ESTABLISHING  AN INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR THE PURPOSES OF DRAFTING AND
 PUBLISHING A REPORT.  THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE LED BY THE  DIVISION,  AND
 SHALL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES DESIGNATED BY THE HEADS OF ANY STATE AGEN-
 CY OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE THE DIVISION DEEMS NECES-
 SARY  FOR  COMPLETION  OF  THE  REVIEW.  THE  DIVISION SHALL ALSO INVITE
 PARTICIPATION, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, FROM  LOCAL  GOVERNMENTS,  ACADEMIC
 INSTITUTIONS,   COMMUNITY-BASED  ORGANIZATIONS  AND  OTHER  STAKEHOLDERS
 DEEMED RELEVANT.
   2. THE REVIEW SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   A. A DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODOLOGY USED AND THE CONSULTATION  PROCESS
 UNDERTAKEN IN PREPARATION OF THE REPORT.
   B.  A  SUMMARY  OF THE STATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL, STATUTORY, AND INSTITU-
 TIONAL FRAMEWORK RELEVANT TO HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUDING APPLICABLE NATIONAL
 AND STATE JURISPRUDENCE AND EXISTING HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS.
   C. AN EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION  OF  HUMAN-RIGHTS-RELATED  LAWS
 AND POLICIES, AS WELL AS LEGISLATIVE OR VOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS AND ACTIV-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13663-07-6

 S. 8517--A                          2
 
 ITIES  BY STATE AND LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
 TO, THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES  OF
 WHICH  THE  UNITED  STATES  HAS  RATIFIED, AND ANY COMMITMENTS WHICH THE
 UNITED  STATES  HAS  MADE  TO  THE  UNITED  NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
 REGARDING THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW.
   D. IDENTIFICATION OF ACHIEVEMENTS,  BEST  PRACTICES,  CHALLENGES,  AND
 CONSTRAINTS.
   E.  RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  KEY PRIORITIES THE STATE SHOULD IMPLEMENT TO
 OVERCOME CONSTRAINTS AND IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND.
   F. IDENTIFICATION OF  AREAS  WHERE  AGENCIES  MAY  REQUIRE  ADDITIONAL
 RESOURCES, MONETARY OR OTHERWISE.
   3.  THE  REPORT  SHALL BE DRAFTED AND COMPLETED BY NOVEMBER THIRTIETH,
 TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION  GIVEN
 TO THE UNITED STATES TO CONDUCT ITS SCHEDULED UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW.
   4.  UPON  COMPLETION,  THE  DIVISION  SHALL  BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE
 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,  AND  THE
 SPEAKER  OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND
 TO PUBLISH THE REPORT ON THE DIVISION'S WEBSITE SO THAT IT  IS  PUBLICLY
 ACCESSIBLE.  ADDITIONALLY,  THE  DIVISION  MAY  SUBMIT THE REPORT TO THE
 UNITED NATIONS' HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM STRICTLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF RECEIV-
 ING TECHNICAL FEEDBACK AND IMPROVING STATE HUMAN RIGHTS  PRACTICES.  ANY
 SUBMISSION  SHOULD  CLEARLY  STATE  THAT  IT  IS SUBMITTED SOLELY IN THE
 CAPACITY OF A SUBNATIONAL STAKEHOLDER, DOES NOT PURPORT TO REPRESENT  OR
 BIND THE UNITED STATES AND IS INTENDED EXCLUSIVELY TO INFORM AND IMPROVE
 STATE-LEVEL HUMAN RIGHTS GOVERNANCE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S8517A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-S8517 - Details

2025-S8517 - Summary

2025-S8517 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8517 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S8517A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8517A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8517A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Sponsored By

Jabari Brisport

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-S8517 - Details

2025-S8517 - Summary

2025-S8517 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8517 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S8517A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8517A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8517A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments