Bill Text: NY A01306 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to governmental operations [A01306 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-A01306-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          1306
                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    January 14, 2019
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
          Committee on Governmental Operations
        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:
     1    Section  1.  Section  101  of  the  state technology law is amended by
     2  adding three new subdivisions 6, 7 and 8 to read as follows:
     3    6. "State website" means an Internet website  operated  by  or  for  a
     4  state  agency or authority. Such term shall include those websites oper-
     5  ated on behalf of state agencies  or  authorities  by  other  public  or
     6  private  entities,  but  shall  not include any portions of the internet
     7  outside the control of the state agency or authority.
     8    7. "Gender-neutral terminology" means a word or expression that cannot
     9  be taken to refer to one gender only, including but not limited to terms
    10  such as flight attendant, firefighter, or police officer.
    11    8."Gender-biased terminology" means a word or expression that categor-
    12  izes on the basis of gender distinctions that can only be taken to refer
    13  to one gender only, including, but not limited to terms such as husband,
    14  wife, fireman or policeman.
    15    § 2. Section 103 of the state technology law is amended  by  adding  a
    16  new subdivision 8-a to read as follows:
    17    8-a.  (a)  To  advise  and assist state agencies or authorities in the
    18  implementation  of  gender-neutral  terminology   on   state   websites.
    19  Gender-biased  terminology shall be prohibited. To the extent consistent
    20  with the meaning of this law, masculine pronouns may  be  used  together
    21  with  feminine pronouns in reference to elected officials, commissioners
    22  and similar persons;
    23    (b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision  shall  in  no
    24  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.
                                                                   LBD02168-01-9
        A. 1306                             2
     1  collect gender-specific information, to the extent permitted by law,  as
     2  necessary to carry out their responsibilities;
     3    (c)  The  provisions  of  paragraph  (a) of this subdivision shall not
     4  apply to any state website  that  addresses  a  gender-specific  matter;
     5  including, but not limited to, pregnancy or maternal health;
     6    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.