What's happening
This bill creates a temporary commission to organize and coordinate educational and tourism events commemorating the 106th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.
Why it matters
Raises public awareness of workplace safety and labor history. by organizing educational events and school curricula, potentially deepening understanding of how the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire shaped modern labor protections and fire safety standards.
Brings together diverse stakeholders—including labor unions, educators, historians, and government officials. to collaboratively commemorate a pivotal event, possibly fostering new partnerships and ongoing advocacy for worker rights.
Highlights significant historical sites and cultural heritage. through tourism events, which could increase public engagement with local history and generate economic activity in relevant communities.
Temporary commission structure ensures focused, time-limited efforts. to coordinate impactful commemorations without creating permanent bureaucracy, allowing for concentrated planning and resource allocation during the anniversary period.
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Honor Triangle Fire Anniversary
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3416
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT in relation to creating the New York state Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 106th anniversary commemoration commission; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings. 1. The legislature hereby finds and declares there is a need to create a New York state Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 106th anniversary commemoration commission to focus attention upon the 106th anniversary of the March 25, 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, during a commemoration period taking place March 25, 2017, through October 14, 2017, the anniversary of the date that the American Society of Safety Engineers was founded as a result of the fire.
2. The primary focus of the New York state Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 106th anniversary commemoration commission will be to plan and execute an organized series of Triangle Shirtwaist Fire educational and tourism events. The tourism events will highlight the following key sites: the site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, Mount Richmond Cemetery and Cemetery of the Evergreens.
3. The legislature finds that the creation of a New York state Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 106th anniversary commemoration commission is necessary to bring together persons qualified by experience or by powers vested in them by their offices to coordinate and facilitate such a historically important event.
§ 2. New York state Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 106th anniversary commemoration commission created. 1. There is hereby created a temporary state commission to be known as the "New York state Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 106th anniversary commemoration commission".
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06598-01-7
S. 3416 2
2. Definitions. As used in this act: (a) "Commission" means the New York state Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 106th anniversary commemoration commission created by this section.
(b) "Historical interpreter" means a person who is a recognized member of a duly constituted organization approved by the host site and who participates in the main Triangle Shirtwaist Fire educational and tourism event for the year.
3. (a) The commission shall consist of 13 members to be appointed as follows: the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation or his or her duly designated representative, the commissioner of education or his or her duly designated representative, the commissioner of economic development or his or her duly designated representative, the commissioner of labor or his or her duly designated representative, representatives from the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU), New York University, the National Women's Hall of Fame, Fire Department of New York, and the Fashion Institute of Technology, four members of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire reenactment community of whom one shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate and one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation or his or her duly designated representative shall serve as chairperson of the commission. The 13 appointed members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing official. Appointments shall be made within 60 days of the effective date of this act. If a member misses three meetings his or her seat shall be considered vacant. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for in the original appointments.
(b) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
(c) Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special or local law, ordinance, resolution or charter, no officer, member or employee of the state or of any public corporation shall forfeit his or her office or employment by reason of his or her acceptance of appointment as a member of the commission, nor shall service as such commission member be deemed incompatible or in conflict with such office or employment.
(d) The commission shall appoint such staff as may be necessary to carry out its duties.
§ 3. Powers and duties of the commission. The commission shall have the following powers and duties:
1. To coordinate the commemoration of the 106th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.
2. To plan and execute an organized series of educational and tourism events focusing on the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, the founding of American Society of Safety Engineers and the reinvigoration of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
3. To promote Triangle Shirtwaist Fire educational studies in grades kindergarten through 12 in New York state schools.
§ 4. Employment. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions. The commission may meet and hold public and private hearings within the state, and shall have all the powers of a legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law.
S. 3416 3
§ 5. Assistance and data. The commission may request and shall receive from any subdivision, department, board, commission, office, agency, or other instrumentality of the state or any political subdivision thereof such facilities, assistance and data as it deems necessary or desirable for the proper execution of its powers and duties and to effectuate the purposes set forth in this act.
§ 6. Agreements. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into any agreements and to do and perform any acts that may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives of this act.
§ 7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed October 14, 2018.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act in relation to creating the New York state Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 106th anniversary commemoration commission; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
To create a temporary commission to commemorate the 106th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Legislative Findings
Section 2. Creates the Commissions; Defines Terms
Section 3. Composition of Commission
Section 4. Employment
Section S. Assistance and Data
Section 6, Agreements
Section 7. Effective date
Justification
Near closing time on Saturday afternoon, March 25, 1911, a fire broke out. One hundred forty six young immigrant women were killed, unable to escape from their garment sweatshop one block east of Washington Square Park. Most women could not escape the burning building because the managers would lock the doors to the stairwells and exits to keep workers from taking cigarette breaks during their shifts. In an effort to escape the flames, sixty-two persons died by jumping or falling from the ninth floor. The fire was one of the largest industrial disasters in the history of New York. The survivors were left to live and relive those agonizing moments. The victims and their families, the people passing by who witnessed the desperate leaps from ninth floor windows and the city of New York would never be the same.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was located inside the Asch building, now known as the Brown Building of Science. It has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and a New York city landmark. The fire led to legislation requiring improved factory safety standards and helped spur the growth of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, which fought for better and safer working conditions for sweatshop workers in that industry. This event challenges not only the labor ethics of a century ago, but those of today. The event highlighted the inhumane working conditions to which industrial workers could be subjected. The New York state legislature, appalled by the event, created a commission to investigate conditions in the city's sweatshops. As a result, the division of Fire prevention was created as part of the Fire Department. Its function is to rid factories of fire hazards.
The victims of the tragedy are still celebrated as martyrs at the hands of industrial greed. Celebrating this milestone gives New Yorkers the opportunity to appreciate and reflect on our history. New York state, its counties, cities, towns and villages may profit, both culturally and economically, from the benefits of a statewide commission to help organize, promote and fully implement a major commemoration of the 106th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2015-16: S.1573A - Amend and Recommit to Finance 2013-14: S.3242 - Referred to Finance 2011-12: S.1619A/A.3684A - Amend and Recommit to Finance 2010: S.7236/A.10717 - Passed Senate/Referred to Governmental Operations
Fiscal implications
Unknown.
Effective date
Immediately, and shall expire on October 14, 2018.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.