Provides that no person shall because of their sex be subjected to any discrimination in his or her civil rights

11 Co-sponsors

• Eric Adams
• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• Tony Avella
• Martin Malavé Dilan
• Michael Gianaris
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Liz Krueger
• Velmanette Montgomery
• Suzi Oppenheimer
• Bill Perkins
• José M. Serrano

BILL NUMBER:S2920

Title of bill

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 11 of article 1 of the constitution, in relation to equal protection of laws

Purpose or general idea of bill

This establishes an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the New York State Constitution to insure that no person in the State of New York will be denied equal protection of the laws based on the sex of the person.

Summary of specific provisions

Adds the category of "sex" to the protected categories of section 11 of article 1 to the New York State Constitution.

Justification

Only a constitutional amendment will guarantee that women and men are treated equally under the law. Further, a constitutional amendment will require that the courts of New York use a strict scrutiny standard when reviewing cases of sex discrimination. In the 21st century, in New York, it is inconceivable that women do not have the constitutional protection of being treated equally under the law.

Prior legislative history

2003-04: A.11831 Referred to Judiciary 2005-06: A.3465/S.1864 Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee. Referred to Senate 2007-08: A.1267/S.1764 Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee. Referred to Senate 2009: S.3489/A.1642 (Died in Senate Judiciary/Died in Assembly Judiciary) 2010: S.3489/A.1642 (Died on Third Reading/Died in Assembly Judiciary)

Fiscal implications

Minimal, if any.

Effective date

RESOLVED (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendments be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.