NY A01695

Amends the New York Executive Law to explicitly authorize punitive damages for victims of sexual harassment in addition to existing provisions for employment and housing discrimination cases

Adds sexual harassment as a specific category under which aggrieved persons can seek punitive damages in court alongside employment discrimination (private employers) and housing discrimination

Allows the Division of Human Rights commissioner to award punitive damages specifically in sexual harassment cases when issuing orders against respondents found to have engaged in unlawful discriminatory practices

Updates gendered language in the statute (replacing "he or she" with "they" or "such commissioner" and similar changes)

Takes effect 90 days after becoming law