What's happening
This bill prohibits recreational water parks in New York from discriminating against individuals based on religious attire or practices.
Why it matters
Guarantees equal access. Ensures that individuals cannot be excluded from water parks or recreational water facilities because of religious attire or grooming, such as modesty swimsuits or facial hair, safeguarding their ability to participate fully in public recreation.
Broadens the definition of covered facilities. Expands protections to a wide range of water-based recreational spaces—including beaches, lakes, and pools—not just traditional water parks, meaning the law would apply in many settings across New York.
Addresses both direct and indirect discrimination. Prohibits not only explicit bans but also any rules or policies that would pressure someone to compromise religious practices, making it harder for facilities to sidestep the law through dress codes or safety policies that are not genuinely necessary.
Applies to all responsible parties. Holds owners, managers, employees, and agents of these facilities accountable, making it clear that discrimination at any level or by any staff member is prohibited, increasing the reach and enforceability of the law.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Religious Bias at Water Parks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
18 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6591
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 12, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. RAMOS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation to prohibiting discrimination in recreational water parks due to religious attire
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The civil rights law is amended by adding a new section 40-h to read as follows:
§ 40-h. Religious discrimination at recreational water parks. No person, agency, bureau, corporation or association, being the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent or employee of any recreational water park as defined in this section shall require any person to violate or forgo a sincerely held practice of his or her religion, including but not limited to the wearing of any attire, clothing including, but not limited to, modesty swimsuits or full body swimsuits, or facial hair in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion.
Recreational water park within the meaning of this section shall include, but not be limited to, beaches, lakes, pools and other water facilities, operated on land or water for recreational use.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10082-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.