Senate Bill S8028

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Requires the use of gender-neutral terminology on state websites

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Internet And Technology Committee

  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2021-S8028 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A3037
Current Committee:
Senate Internet And Technology
Law Section:
State Technology Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §§101 & 103, St Tech L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2017-2018: A10986
2019-2020: A1306
2023-2024: S208, A1371

2021-S8028 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes that state agencies or authorities shall implement gender-neutral terminology on state websites.

2021-S8028 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S8028 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8028
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 20, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Internet and Technology
 
 AN ACT to amend the state technology law, in relation to requiring state
   websites to use gender-neutral terminology
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Section  101  of  the  state technology law is amended by
 adding three new subdivisions 6, 7 and 8 to read as follows:
   6. "STATE WEBSITE" MEANS AN INTERNET WEBSITE  OPERATED  BY  OR  FOR  A
 STATE  AGENCY OR AUTHORITY. SUCH TERM SHALL INCLUDE THOSE WEBSITES OPER-
 ATED ON BEHALF OF STATE AGENCIES  OR  AUTHORITIES  BY  OTHER  PUBLIC  OR
 PRIVATE  ENTITIES,  BUT  SHALL  NOT INCLUDE ANY PORTIONS OF THE INTERNET
 OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF THE STATE AGENCY OR AUTHORITY.
   7. "GENDER-NEUTRAL TERMINOLOGY" MEANS A WORD OR EXPRESSION THAT CANNOT
 BE TAKEN TO REFER TO ONE GENDER ONLY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TERMS
 SUCH AS FLIGHT ATTENDANT, FIREFIGHTER, OR POLICE OFFICER.
   8. "GENDER-BIASED TERMINOLOGY" MEANS A WORD OR EXPRESSION  THAT  CATE-
 GORIZES  ON  THE  BASIS OF GENDER DISTINCTIONS THAT CAN ONLY BE TAKEN TO
 REFER TO ONE GENDER ONLY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO  TERMS  SUCH  AS
 HUSBAND, WIFE, FIREMAN OR POLICEMAN.
   §  2.  Section  103 of the state technology law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 8-b to read as follows:
   8-B. (A) TO ADVISE AND ASSIST STATE AGENCIES  OR  AUTHORITIES  IN  THE
 IMPLEMENTATION   OF   GENDER-NEUTRAL   TERMINOLOGY  ON  STATE  WEBSITES.
 GENDER-BIASED TERMINOLOGY SHALL BE PROHIBITED. TO THE EXTENT  CONSISTENT
 WITH  THE  MEANING  OF THIS LAW, MASCULINE PRONOUNS MAY BE USED TOGETHER
 WITH FEMININE PRONOUNS IN REFERENCE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS,  COMMISSIONERS
 AND SIMILAR PERSONS;
   (B)  THE  PROVISIONS  OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL IN NO
 WAY INTERFERE WITH THE ABILITY OF  ANY  STATE  AGENCY  OR  AUTHORITY  TO
 COLLECT  GENDER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AS
 NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00801-02-2
 S. 8028                             2

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