Senator Biaggi And Senate Majority Pass Legislation Aimed at Strengthening New York’s Sexual Harassment Protections

ALBANY, NY – Yesterday, the New York State Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senator Alessandra Biaggi to expand protections against sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace and provide survivors the opportunity to openly speak their truth, without fear of retaliation.

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx/Westchester) issued the following statement:

"On the first day of Women’s History Month, I was proud to stand with my colleagues to deliver this package of legislation aimed at strengthening New York’s sexual harassment protections. Last year, we witnessed a paradigm shift in our State’s culture– New Yorkers made it clear that workplaces that silence, stifle and abuse survivors of sexual harassment will no longer will be tolerated. As a Legislature, we must build upon this momentum and enact legislation that will protect working New Yorkers across all sectors and create a truly harassment-free New York. This is why I am proud to pass two of my bills, S812A and S738. Both of these bills will strengthen sexual harassment protections in the workplace and provide survivors with the opportuntiy to freely speak their truth, without fear of retaliation. All survivors deserve the opportunity to openly seek justice, and only when we prioritize this, can we build a safer, harassment-free New York."

The legislation passed by Senator Biaggi and the Senate Democratic Majority include:

• Let Survivors Speak Act: This legislation, Senate Bill S.738, sponsored by Senator Alessandra Biaggi, would reform current Non-Disclosure Agreement laws that financially penalize survivors who speak out about their abuse by prohibiting settlements that require plaintiffs to pay liquidated damages for violating their NDA. 
• Workplace Sexual Harassment Hotline: This bill, S.812A, sponsored by Senator Alessandra Biaggi, establishes a toll free confidential hotline for complainants of workplace sexual harassment. 

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