Redesign New York State Flag

Section 2 directs the Commissioner of the Office of General Services to commission the North American Vexillological Association for design of a proper State flag.

Section 3 gives the enacting clause.

Justification

This legislation is justified because words have meaning and symbols matter to the people of the State of New York.

"E pluribus unum" is the traditional motto of the United States. It means "out of many, one" in Latin and has been placed on the U.S. Great Seal since the founding of our Nation. The Motto alludes to t he union of 13 British Colonies in America under one independent banner against tyranny and oppression. Rather than bowing to the royalty of the crown, we set out to create a new experiment in representative democracy with revolutionary concepts like the creation of 3 co-equal branches of government with checks and balances and a bill of rights to ensure the true power remained with the office of the citizen.

The first draft of the New York State seal was made in April 1777. Deliberation, debate, and good government discussion was had until a final design was codified in law a year later. Since 1778 the "The Great Seal of the State of New York" has remained in that beautiful design, packed with meaningful symbols. Lady Liberty and Lady Justice hold the shield and a right-facing American bald eagle spreads its wings above on a world globe. Liberty's sinister (left) foot kicks the crown off the King, and holds a staff topped with a Phrygian Cap, an ancient roman symbol of liberty. Justice is blindfolded to show her impartiality and holds the sword of conviction in one hand and a scale in the other, symbolizing fairness. The shield displays two ships on the Hudson River for inland and foreign commerce, bordered by a grassy shore and a moun- tain range with the sun rising behind it. On the banner at the base of the seal has always displayed the New York State motto "Excelsior," a Latin word meaning "Ever Upward."

The Governor of the State of New York changed the Great Seal of the State of New York in the 2020-2021 budget proposal. Unlike the de liber- ations held under Governor Clinton in the first years of our new State, he sought no input and facilitated no dialogue. Instead, the Executive

made a decision to alter a symbol that has existed for 242 years as if he had the authority of a European monarch. Unfortunately the proposal was jammed into a budget bill and because of its nature, did not receive due debate as a stand-alone bill in either house of the Legislature. We, the people of the State of New York, reserve the right to keep our seal as is.

Section 1 of this bill removes the undemocratic addition to the motto on the scroll at the bottom of the seal. Additionally, the bill also removes the terrible vexillological decision to put our great seal on a bedsheet and call it a flag.

Section 2 of this bill requires the Commissioner of the Office of Gener- al Services to commission the North American Vexillological Association for design of a proper flag. It is unrepresentative of our great state to lazily take the official seal and put it on a rectangle in order to fill the need for a flag. A flag isn't a government box to check; it's a symbol to rally around, to inspire hope, to grace the shoulders of our State Police, to fly proudly on the flag poles of government buildings and if we've done it well, evoke the deep pride us New Yorkers feel each time we think of the Great State of New York.

Prior legislative history

A10860/S8880 (2020): Referred to Rules

A4458/s2610 (2021)

Referred to Investigations and Government Operations

S4232 (2023)

Referred to Investigations and Government Operations

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

Minimal.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law.