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NY S09172

Bill

Status

Introduced

5/2/2024

Primary Sponsor

Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2023-2024 General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Amends Civil Rights Law § 74 to establish a privilege for communications made without malice regarding incidents of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination.

  • Extends the existing privilege for fair and true reports of judicial, legislative, and official proceedings to include personal communications about sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination incidents.

  • Entitles prevailing defendants in defamation actions involving privileged communications to recover reasonable attorney's fees, costs, treble damages for harm caused by the action, and punitive damages.

  • Applies the privilege only to individuals who have or had a reasonable basis to file a complaint about sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination, regardless of whether a complaint was actually filed.

  • Defines "communication" as factual information about experienced incidents including sexual assault, sexual harassment, workplace harassment or discrimination, retaliation for reporting such conduct, and housing discrimination or retaliation.

Legislative Description

Provides that certain communications made without malice regarding an incident of sexual assault, harassment or discrimination shall be deemed privileged; provides that a prevailing defendant in an action brought against such defendant for making a communication that is privileged shall be entitled to attorney's fees and costs for such defense.

Last Action

REFERRED TO CODES

5/2/2024

Committee Referrals

Codes5/2/2024

Full Bill Text

No bill text available