STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          7563

                               2021-2022 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                      May 13, 2021
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M. of A. MEEKS, ZEBROWSKI -- (at request of the Division
          of Human Rights) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Govern-
          mental Operations

        AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the  requirements  for
          filing a complaint with the Division of Human Rights

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1.  Subdivision 1 of section 297  of  the  executive  law,  as
     2  amended  by  chapter  160  of  the  laws  of 2019, is amended to read as
     3  follows:
     4    1. Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an  unlawful  discriminatory
     5  practice may, by himself or herself or his or her attorney-at-law, make,
     6  sign  and file with the division a [verified] complaint in writing under
     7  oath or by declaration which shall state the name  and  address  of  the
     8  person  alleged  to  have committed the unlawful discriminatory practice
     9  complained of and which shall set  forth  the  particulars  thereof  and
    10  contain  such  other information as may be required by the division. The
    11  commissioner of labor or the attorney general,  or  the  [chair  of  the
    12  commission  on  quality  of  care  for  the mentally disabled] executive
    13  director of the justice center for the protection of people with special
    14  needs, or the division on its own motion may, in like manner, make, sign
    15  and  file  such  complaint.  In  connection  with  the  filing  of  such
    16  complaint,  the  attorney  general  is  authorized  to take proof, issue
    17  subpoenas and administer oaths in the manner provided in the civil prac-
    18  tice law and rules. Any employer  whose  employees,  or  some  of  them,
    19  refuse  or  threaten  to refuse to cooperate with the provisions of this
    20  article, may file with the division  a  verified  complaint  asking  for
    21  assistance by conciliation or other remedial action.
    22    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD09582-01-1