Bill Text: NY S08028 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Bill 8028 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

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) 2022-01-20 - REFERRED TO INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY [S08028 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-S08028-Introduced.html


                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          8028

                    IN SENATE

                                    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:

     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  cate-
    12  gorizes  on  the  basis of gender distinctions that can only be taken to
    13  refer to one gender only, including, but not limited to  terms  such  as
    14  husband, wife, fireman or policeman.
    15    §  2.  Section  103 of the state technology law is amended by adding a
    16  new subdivision 8-b to read as follows:
    17    8-b. (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
    25  collect  gender-specific information, to the extent permitted by law, as
    26  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

     1    (c) The provisions of paragraph (a)  of  this  subdivision  shall  not
     2  apply  to  any  state  website  that addresses a gender-specific matter;
     3  including, but not limited to, pregnancy or maternal health;
     4    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.