Senate bill · S4197 (2025-26)
Relates to the ethical duty of public officers not to engage in or permit behavior which violates the human rights law
New York State Senate
Same as A6201, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Summary
Relates to the ethical standards of officers or employees of a state agency, members of the legislature and legislative employees with regard to engaging in acts of discrimination, sexual harassment or creating a hostile workplace.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Public Officers Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
To clarify that the ethical duties required under Public Officers Law include not engaging in acts of unlawful discrimination such as sexual harassment
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Where it stands
Assigned to a committee for review.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Ethics And Internal Governance · New York State Senate
Also referred to Governmental Operations · New York State Assembly.
Cosponsors
Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)- Democratic2
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The sponsor's argument
Why Andrew Gounardes says this is needed
Albany's reputation of discrimination and harassment illustrates how inadequate our systems are in preventing and responding to misconduct. This legislation amends the Public Officers Law to make clear that acts of discrimination and harassment are a violation. This bill will clari- fy that the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) is able to hold public officers accountable for sexual harassment and other workplace discrimination, an offense that they already routinely inves- tigate to issue findings of substantiation or lack thereof and recommend disciplinary action where needed. In clarifying COELIG's current scope, this bill will discourage adverse parties from suing to litigate the question of whether or not sexual harassment is a Public Offiers Law violatoin and thus subject to COELIG jurisdiction.
This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.
Full history
- May 26, 2026
Amend (t) and Recommit to Governmental Operations
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
- May 19, 2026
Amend (t) and Recommit to Ethics and Internal Governance
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO ETHICS AND INTERNAL GOVERNANCE
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ETHICS AND INTERNAL GOVERNANCE
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
- Feb 27, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
Show full history (1 earlier event)Show less history
- Feb 3, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ETHICS AND INTERNAL GOVERNANCE
NY Senate