BILL NUMBER: S1660
SPONSOR: BAILEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend chapter 137 of the laws of 1817 relating to slaves and
servants, in relation to acknowledging the tragedy of slavery in New
York state
 
PURPOSE:
To acknowledge the tragedy of slavery in New York State and offer a
formal apology from the State of New York for its role in perpetuating
slavery.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
As described above, the bill sets forth language formally acknowledging
and apologizing for the legalization and perpetuation of slavery and the
slave trade in New York state.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
For hundreds of years, slavery existed in the area that would become New
York State. New York not only legalized the enslavement of Africans and
their descendants, but also enacted "slave codes," levied taxes on the
sale of enslaved persons, and enacted fines payable to local governments
or poor house administrators for violations of the "slave codes." In
chapter 137 of the laws of 1817, New York provided for the gradual eman-
cipation of enslaved persons by July 4, 1827. This statute, however,
also provided penalties for harboring an enslaved person or servant and
permitted an enslaved person to be abandoned at age 21 with certif-
ication by local government.
As the World Conference Against Racism (Durban, South Africa, 2002)
proclaimed in its final document, "...slavery and the slave trade are a
crime against humanity and should always have been so...." New York
State should apologize for their role in the enslavement of Africans and
their descendants.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2023-24: Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.