NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4983
SPONSOR: Bichotte Hermelyn TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to prohibiting discrimi-
nation in government procurement
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::
Relates to requiring state and local law enforcement officers to identi-
fy themselves to the public
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS::
In adopting this act, it is the intent of the legislature to increase
transparency in police practices and to build trust between police offi-
cers and members of the public. Law enforcement activity means all but
not limited to the following; pedestrian stops, frisks, noncustodial
questioning of individuals, traffic stops, and home searches.
JUSTIFICATION::
The legislature finds that the people of the state of New York 'are in
great debt to the hard work and dedication of police officers in their
daily duties. The legislature finds that mistrust of law enforcement
officers based on real or perceived discrimination hinders law enforce-
ment efforts and is a threat to public safety. New York state and local
police policy already requires that officers wear shields and nameplates
at all times while in uniform, and that they provide their rank, name,
shield number and command when asked.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
01/03/24 referred to governmental operations
01/13/23 referred to governmental operations
2021-22: A06807; Referred to Government Operations
2019-20: A3231; referred to Government Operations
2017-18: A2992; Referred to Government Operations
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
Unknown.
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become a
law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4983
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, LEVENBERG --
read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to prohibiting discrimi-
nation in government procurement
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 290 of the executive law, as
2 amended by chapter 173 of the laws of 1974, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 3. The legislature hereby finds and declares that the state has the
5 responsibility to act to assure that every individual within this state
6 is afforded an equal opportunity to enjoy a full and productive life and
7 that the failure to provide such equal opportunity, whether because of
8 discrimination, prejudice, intolerance or inadequate education, train-
9 ing, housing or health care not only threatens the rights and proper
10 privileges of its inhabitants but menaces the institutions and founda-
11 tion of a free democratic state and threatens the peace, order, health,
12 safety and general welfare of the state and its inhabitants. A division
13 in the executive department is hereby created to encourage programs
14 designed to insure that every individual shall have an equal opportunity
15 to participate fully in the economic, cultural and intellectual life of
16 the state; to encourage and promote the development and execution by all
17 persons within the state of such state programs; to eliminate and
18 prevent discrimination in employment, in places of public accommodation,
19 resort or amusement, in educational institutions, in public services, in
20 government procurement, in housing accommodations, in commercial space
21 and in credit transactions and to take other actions against discrimi-
22 nation as herein provided; and the division established hereunder is
23 hereby given general jurisdiction and power for such purposes.
24 § 2. Section 296 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
25 subdivision 23 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04178-01-5
A. 4983 2
1 23. It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any agency or
2 bureau of the state and any political subdivision thereof to deny a
3 government contracting or procurement opportunity to any person, because
4 of the actual or perceived race, creed, color, national origin, sexual
5 orientation, military status, sex, age, disability, marital status, or
6 familial status of such person, or of such person's business associates
7 or partners, members, stockholders, directors, officers, managers,
8 superintendents, agents, employees, suppliers or customers. Nothing in
9 this subdivision shall prohibit the state or any political subdivision
10 thereof from establishing policies to increase participation by a group
11 traditionally underrepresented in government contracting or procurement.
12 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
