What's happening
This bill adds a formal acknowledgment and apology by New York State for its role in slavery and the slave trade.
Why it matters
Recognizes the scale and organized nature of slavery in New York. , emphasizing that the harm went beyond individual acts to systemic and institutionalized oppression, which shaped state and national history.
Explicitly labels slavery and the slave trade as crimes against humanity and crimes against the state. , a significant legal and moral framing that could influence future discussions about restitution, education, or policy reform.
Highlights specific harms, such as the creation of slave codes, exploitation and abuse of children, and the forced breakup of families. , making clear the ongoing legacy and intergenerational impact of these injustices.
Invokes the legacy of Sojourner Truth to personalize and humanize the state's apology. , tying historical wrongs to a prominent figure whose story represents the broader suffering and resilience of enslaved people in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Acknowledge Slavery as Tragedy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2220
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, KENNEDY, KRUEGER, PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend chapter 137 of the laws of 1817 relating to slaves and servants, in relation to acknowledging the tragedy of slavery in New York state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 137 of the laws of 1817 relating to slaves and servants is amended by adding a new section XXXII-a to read as follows:
§ XXXII-a. Acknowledges that slavery, the transatlantic and the domestic slave trade were appalling tragedies in the history of New York state not only because of their abhorrent barbarism but also in terms of their magnitude, organized nature and especially their negation of the humanity of the enslaved person. The government of the state of New York further acknowledges that the institutions of slavery and the slave trade in enslaved persons are now and should always have been crimes against this state as well as crimes against humanity. The government of the state of New York formally apologizes for its role in sanctioning, exploiting and perpetuating slavery and its vestiges, including the enactment of slave codes that created the exploitation and abuse of children, and the dissolution of their families as personified by the life and legacy of Sojourner Truth.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05569-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 137 of the laws of 1817 relating to slaves and servants, in relation to acknowledging the tragedy of slavery in New York state
Purpose
This bill acknowledges the tragedy of slavery in New York state and offers a formal apology from the State of New York for its role in perpetuating slavery.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. New York state government formally acknowledges and apolo- gizes for the legalization and perpetuation of slavery and the slave trade in New York state.
Justification
For more than two hundred years, slavery existed in what became New York state. New York state government not only legalized the enslavement of Africans and their descendants, but also enacted "slave codes," taxes on the sale of enslaved persons and fines payable to the local government or poor house administrators for violations of the "slave codes." In chapter 137 of the laws of 1 817, for example, New York state government provided for the gradual emancipation of enslaved persons by July 4, 1827. This statute however, also provided penalties for harboring an enslaved person or servant, and permitted an enslaved person to be aban- doned at age 21 with certification by local government.
As the World Conference Against Racism (Durban, South Africa, 2002) proclaimed in its final document, "...slavery and the slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so..." New York State should apologize for their role in the enslavement of Africans and their descendants.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Legislative history/senate
2017-18: S.5090 Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
Effective date
Takes effect immediately, with provisions.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.