BILL NUMBER: S6636
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to suspending all unnec-
essary travel to states that permit discrimination on the basis of sexu-
al orientation, gender identity, or gender expression
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to ban state-funded or state-spon-
sored travel to States that have discriminatory laws against individuals
and/or couples on the basis of sexual orientation, gender expression, or
gender identity.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new Section 170-g to the Executive Law that provides
for withholding state-funded or state-sponsored travel to States that
have enacted laws that voids or repeals, or that has the effect of void-
ing or repealing, state or local protections against discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression,
or has enacted laws that allows discrimination against same-sex couples
on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender
expression. The Attorney General is required to develop, maintain, and
post on their website a list of States that, after January 1, 2022, have
enacted laws that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation,
gender identity, or gender expression, or have enacted laws that allows
discrimination against same-sex couples on the basis of sexual orien-
tation, gender. identity, or gender expression.
Section 2 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The New York legislature continues taking steps towards protecting the
rights and lives of our LGBTQ+ residents, working to undo decades of
harm. For too long we have seen the criminalization and discrimination
of intersectional Trans* and Queer identities while society steals their
culture and fetishizes their accomplishments. So much work remains for
the LGBTQ+ community to feel safe and seen in our State, but with each
step forward we take, other states enact discriminatory laws guided by
fear and ignorance. As an ally, New York State must stand in solidarity
by publicly opposing such blatant and misguided discrimination. We have
enacted similar travel reimbursement restrictions in the past. This
legislation makes permanent the call for gender, sexual, and identity
justice by not funding travel to those States that wish to spread hate
through discriminatory laws.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.5463 - Referred to Finance/A.1943 - Referred to Govern-
mental Operations
2021-2022: S.6897 - Referred to Finance/A.7991 - Referred to Govern-
mental Operations
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.