What's happening
This bill establishes a toll-free hotline to provide counsel and assistance to individuals with workplace sexual harassment complaints.
Why it matters
Expands access to legal advice. By requiring the inclusion of pro bono (free) legal counsel, the bill ensures that individuals who may not otherwise be able to afford an attorney can receive important legal guidance about their rights and options when facing workplace sexual harassment.
Improves public awareness. The law mandates active dissemination of hotline information, including through employer materials, increasing the likelihood that employees are informed of their rights and available resources to address harassment.
Encourages attorney participation. The bill directs collaboration with legal organizations to recruit volunteer attorneys, potentially creating a broader network of support and expertise for complainants, though these attorneys are not obligated to represent callers beyond the initial hotline consultation.
Potentially lowers barriers to reporting. By providing a confidential, accessible first point of contact, the hotline could help more victims come forward, receive assistance, and better navigate the complaint process, which may deter harassment and improve workplace environments.
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Who cares
Workers with workplace sexual harassment complaints
They would gain access to a toll-free hotline offering free legal counsel and assistance during regular business hours.
New York State Division of Human Rights
The division would establish, operate and publicize the hotline and recruit volunteer attorneys through legal organizations.
Department of Labor and employers
The department would work with the division to ensure hotline information appears in sexual harassment materials employers must post or provide to employees.
New York State Bar Association and volunteer attorneys
Attorney organizations would help recruit lawyers to provide pro bono hotline advice without committing those lawyers to represent callers.
Headline styles
Create Harassment Reporting Hotline
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Print number 7374a
- Amend (t) and recommit to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create Harassment Complaint Hotline
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Alessandra Biaggi
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7374--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. NIOU -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a toll free hotline for complainants of workplace sexual harassment
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 295 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 17 to read as follows:
17. To establish a toll free hotline to provide individuals with complaints of workplace sexual harassment counsel and assistance. The division shall operate this hotline during regular business hours and disseminate information about this hotline in order to ensure public knowledge of the hotline, including by working with the department of labor to ensure that information on the hotline is included in any materials employers must post or provide to employees regarding sexual harassment. The division will work with organizations representing attorneys, including but not limited to the New York state bar association, to recruit attorneys that shall provide pro bono assistance and counsel to individuals that contact the hotline. Attorneys will not be committed to representing any sexual harassment complainants that they advise through the hotline.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10062-03-9
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.