What's happening
This bill prohibits New York from paying for travel to states that allow for-profit businesses to use religious freedom as a defense against discrimination claims.
Why it matters
Targets states with specific religious exemption laws. The bill specifically restricts New York from paying for travel to states that permit for-profit businesses to use religious freedom as a legal defense against discrimination claims. This draws a clear line against states whose laws could be seen as allowing businesses to refuse service or discriminate based on religious grounds.
Leverages state spending as a policy tool. By refusing to reimburse or fund official travel to these states, New York uses its financial power to discourage practices it views as undermining anti-discrimination protections, signaling a commitment to upholding civil rights.
Carves out exceptions for essential travel. The bill includes exemptions for travel that is necessary for law enforcement, fulfilling contractual obligations, or protecting public safety, ensuring that critical state functions are not disrupted by the policy.
May influence intergovernmental and business relationships. This restriction could affect collaborations, conferences, and other interactions with the affected states, potentially shaping how public employees and agencies plan activities and partnerships outside of New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Travel Funds to Certain States
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2290
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sens. GIANARIS, HOYLMAN, PARKER, SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to prohibiting the payment of any claim for travel to, from and/or within certain states that allow for profit businesses to assert a right of free exercise of religion
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 109 of the state finance law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
2-a. The comptroller shall not draw his or her warrant for the payment of any claim or voucher submitted for any expense, including the payment of any per diem allowance, incurred for any travel to, from and/or within any state which, by law, authorizes for profit businesses to invoke the free exercise of religion as a defense to a cause of action commenced by an individual, group of individuals or non-governmental entity for wrongful discrimination. The prohibition established in this subdivision shall not apply to any travel which is necessary to enforce any provisions of law of this state, to comply with any contractual obligation of the state or to protect public safety.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04044-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to prohibiting the payment of any claim for travel to, from and/or within certain states that allow for profit businesses to assert a right of free exercise of religion
Purpose
To make it the clear, unequivocal policy of the State of New York that the state will not support other states' attempts to discriminate against its own citizens.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 109 of the state finance law adding a new subdivision 2-a preventing the Comptroller from paying any claim or voucher for travel to any state that authorizes businesses to assert a defense of "free exercise of religion" in defense against a private cause of action for wrongful discrimination.
Justification
Recently, some states have been taking the unprecedented step to increase the ability of some of its citizens to discriminate against others in the name of religious freedom. While some states have had religious freedom laws for some time, there is a new trend to include specific provisions specifically designed to facilitate anti-LGBT discrimination. New York has always been, and should remain at the fore- front of protecting civil rights. This bill sends a message that New York will not tolerate the actions of any state that takes this unprecedented, discriminatory action.
Legislative history
2018: Died in Finance
2017: Died in Finance
2016: Died in Finance
2015: Died in Finance
Fiscal implications
Implementation of this bill may result in savings to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.