What's happening
This bill requires museums to display information about art stolen or forcibly sold during the Nazi era in Europe.
Why it matters
Increases transparency about art provenance. By requiring museums to disclose if artworks were stolen or forcibly sold during the Nazi era, the bill makes public the often-hidden histories of these pieces, which can educate visitors about the broader context of cultural loss during the Holocaust.
Supports restitution and justice efforts. Making this information visible may assist descendants of original owners in tracing lost property, and could put pressure on museums to address unresolved restitution claims.
Promotes ethical stewardship in museums. The law encourages museums to take responsibility for the history of their collections and to participate actively in confronting the legacy of Nazi-looted art, reinforcing ethical standards in the art world.
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Who cares
Museums
Museums displaying identifiable works created before 1945 that changed hands involuntarily in Europe during the Nazi era would have to prominently post placards acknowledging that history.
Museum curators and exhibition staff
They would need to place the required notices alongside covered works, including art transferred through theft, seizure, confiscation or forced sale.
Families of owners whose art was taken during the Nazi era
The bill would require museums to acknowledge involuntary transfers when displaying covered works.
Museum visitors
They would receive prominent notice of covered artworks’ involuntary transfers in Europe during 1933–1945.
Headline styles
Require Nazi-Looted Art Notices
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
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.
Flag Nazi-Looted Art in Museums
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Anna Kaplan
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9679
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2020
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to notice of art stolen during the Nazi era in Europe
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 233-aa of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 15 to read as follows:
15. Every museum which has on display any identifiable works of art known to have been created before nineteen hundred forty-five and which changed hands due to theft, seizure, confiscation, forced sale or other involuntary means in Europe during the Nazi era (nineteen hundred thirty-three--nineteen hundred forty-five) shall prominently place a placard acknowledging such information along with such display.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14939-01-0
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.