Senate Bill S208A

Signed By Governor
2023-2024 Legislative Session

Requires the use of gender-neutral terminology on state websites

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status Via A1371 - Signed by Governor

  • 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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Bill Amendments

2023-S208 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A1371
Law Section:
State Technology Law
Laws Affected:
Add §103-b, amd §103, St Tech L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2017-2018: A10986
2019-2020: A1306
2021-2022: S8028, A3037

2023-S208 - Summary

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

2023-S208 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S208 - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    208
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 4, 2023
                                ___________
 
 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

2023-S208A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A1371
Law Section:
State Technology Law
Laws Affected:
Add §103-b, amd §103, St Tech L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2017-2018: A10986
2019-2020: A1306
2021-2022: S8028, A3037

2023-S208A (ACTIVE) - Summary

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

2023-S208A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S208A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  208--A
     Cal. No. 430
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 4, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Internet and Technology --
   reported favorably from said committee, ordered to  first  and  second
   report,  ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to
   the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third  reading,
   amended  and  ordered  reprinted,  retaining its place in the order of
   third reading
 
 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. The state technology law is amended by adding a new section
 103-b to read as follows:
   § 103-B. GENDER-NEUTRAL TERMINOLOGY; STATE AGENCIES. EACH STATE AGENCY
 SHALL USE GENDER-NEUTRAL TERMINOLOGY ON THEIR WEBSITES; PROVIDED, HOWEV-
 ER, IF SUCH LANGUAGE IS IN REFERENCE TO A SPECIFIC PERSON, OR A SPECIFIC
 GROUP  OF  PEOPLE, THE LANGUAGE REFERRING TO SUCH PERSON OR GROUP MAY BE
 GENDERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENDER IDENTITY OF SUCH PERSON OR  GROUP
 OF PEOPLE.
   §  2.  Section  103 of the state technology law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 23 to read as follows:
   23. TO ISSUE GUIDANCE FOR STATE AGENCIES IN THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH  THE
 GENDER-NEUTRAL TERMINOLOGY REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED
 THREE-B OF THIS CHAPTER.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00976-03-3

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