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NY A00687
Bill
Status
1/8/2025
Primary Sponsor
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas
Click for details
AI Summary
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Establishes a legal privilege for communications made without malice by individuals regarding incidents of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination they experienced
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Entitles prevailing defendants in defamation lawsuits over such privileged communications to recover reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and treble damages for harm caused by the defamation action, plus punitive damages
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Applies only to individuals who have or had a reasonable basis to file a complaint of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination, regardless of whether a complaint was actually filed
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Defines covered "communication" to include factual information about sexual assault, sexual harassment, workplace harassment or discrimination, retaliation, and housing discrimination
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Amends Civil Rights Law Section 74 to add these protections alongside existing privileges for fair and true reports of judicial, legislative, and official proceedings
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 governmental operations
1/7/2026