The New York City Bar Association on Wednesday endorsed legislation that is aimed at strengthening anti-sexual harassment laws and discrimination protections for workers in New York.
“The City Bar’s support of this significant package of legislation continues our momentum as we continue to urge the State Legislature to pass this bill this session to protect the rights of all employees in New York State. New York is long seen as the policy laboratory for the nation and with this bill, the Empire State be a national leader in enacting legislation to protect employees,” said Miriam Clark, NELA/NY board president and a New York employment discrimination attorney with Ritz Clark & Ben Asher LLP.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, is part of a package of measures lawmakers are considering in the final weeks of the legislative session meant to update and bolster the state’s sexual harassment laws.
The support from the group comes as lawmakers are also considering a change the definition of sexual harassment beyond “severe or pervasive” — terminology that advocates say does not capture enough abusive, discriminatory or unwanted behavior.