New York S 103: Enacts the "New York religious freedom act"

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S00103 Summary:

BILL NOS00103 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORKRUEGER

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COSPNSRBAILEY, CLEARE, LIU, RIVERA, SALAZAR, SERRANO, STAVISKY

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §16, Civ Rts L

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Enacts the "New York religious freedom act".

Go to top S00103 Actions:

BILL NOS00103 

&nbsp

01/08/2025REFERRED TO CODES

01/07/2026REFERRED TO CODES

Go to topS00103 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS00103 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS00103 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 103

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. KRUEGER, BAILEY, LIU, RIVERA, SERRANO, STAVISKY --
 read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
 the Committee on Codes

 AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation to enacting the New
 York religious freedom act

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known, and may be cited, as
 2 the "New York religious freedom act".
 3 § 2. Legislative intent. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
 4 following:
 5 (a) In New York, we celebrate the rich cultural heritage and diversity
 6 of our residents.
 7 (b) Freedom of religion and protection from persecution are founding
 8 ideals of our nation.
 9 (c) New York must uphold the protection of religious freedom enshrined
 10 in the United States Constitution for all of its people, and the state
 11 has a moral obligation to protect its citizens from religious perse-
 12 cution.
 13 (d) Section 3 of Article I of the New York state Constitution guaran-
 14 tees the free exercise and enjoyment of religion without discrimination
 15 or preference.
 16 § 3. The civil rights law is amended by adding a new section 16 to
 17 read as follows:
 18 § 16. New York religious freedom act. 1. Notwithstanding any other
 19 law, a state or local agency or public employee acting under color of
 20 law shall not:
 21 (a) Provide or disclose to federal government authorities personally
 22 identifiable information regarding the religious beliefs, practices, or
 23 affiliation of any individual for the purpose of compiling a list,

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00664-01-5

 S. 103 2

 1 registry, or database of individuals based on religious affiliation,
 2 national origin, or ethnicity.
 3 (b) Use agency money, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to
 4 assist in creation, implementation, or enforcement of any government
 5 program compiling a list, registry, or database of personally identifi-
 6 able information about individuals based on religious belief, practice,
 7 or affiliation, or national origin or ethnicity, for law enforcement or
 8 immigration purposes.
 9 (c) Make personally identifiable information from agency databases
 10 available, including any databases maintained by private vendors
 11 contracting with the agency, to anyone or any entity for the purpose of
 12 investigation or enforcement under any government program compiling a
 13 list, registry, or database of individuals based on religious belief,
 14 practice, or affiliation, or national origin or ethnicity for law
 15 enforcement or immigration purposes.
 16 2. Notwithstanding any other law, state and local law enforcement
 17 agencies shall not:
 18 (a) Collect information on the religious belief, practice, or affil-
 19 iation of any individual except: (1) as part of a targeted investigation
 20 of an individual based on reasonable suspicion to believe that individ-
 21 ual has engaged in criminal activity, and when there is a clear nexus
 22 between the criminal activity and the specific information collected
 23 about religious belief, practice, or affiliation; or (2) where necessary
 24 to provide religious accommodations.
 25 (b) Use agency money, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to
 26 investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of
 27 any criminal, civil, or administrative violation, or warrant for a
 28 violation, of any requirement that individuals register with the federal
 29 go