State Laws, Executive Orders and Regulations
Please note that all links lead to outside government webpages

Article 15-A (1988) - An act to amend the executive law and the state Finance law, in relation to participation by minority group members and women with respect to state contracts.

Equal Opportunity for Women (A Position Paper - No. 14, State Education Department) - A statement of policy and proposed action by the Regents of the University of the State of New York to provide equal educational and employment opportunities for women.

Executive Order No. 6 (Governor Cuomo, 1983) - insures equal employment opportunities for minorities, women, disabled persons and Vietnam Era Veterans in State government. The order clarifies and expands the power of the President of the Civil Service Commission and the Governor's Executive Committee for Affirmative Action to ensure that agencies develop and implement effective affirmative action plans (supersedes Executive Order No. 40. 1).

Executive Order No. 17 (Governor Cuomo, 1983) - Directs that State officials and employees shall not sponsor, organize, attend or participate in any meeting or other activity, the purpose of which is related to State business, in any private establishment or facility which does not afford full membership rights and privileges to any person because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability or marital Status.

Executive Order No. 19 (Governor Cuomo, 1983) - Establishes a New York State policy statement condemning sexual harassment in the workplace.

Executive Order No. 28 (Governor Cuomo, 1983) - Prohibits all State agencies from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation in any matter relating to employment by the State including hiring, promotion, tenure and compensation.

Executive Order No. 28.1 (Governor Cuomo, 1987) - Directs the New York State Division of Human Rights to implement a procedure to ensure the swift and thorough investigation of complaints of discrimintion based on sexual orientation in New York State Agencies and Departments.

Executive Order No. 51 (Governor Cuomo, 1983) - Establishes the Office of the Advocate for the Disabled.

Executive Order No. 96 (Governor Cuomo, 1987) - Promotes a New York State policy against age discrimination in the workplace. Requires that all employers within the Executive Branch of State government evaluate and examine their hiring and job retaining standards to ensure their compliance with the age discrimination law.

Executive Order No. 154 (Governor Cuomo, 1992) - Establishes the Governor's Task Force on Sexual Harassment - created to assess the extent to which the illegal form of unlawful sex discrimination continues to exist in New York State in both the public and private sectors and make recommendations for assuring effective redress for victims, enhancing public understanding of sexual harassment and eradicating it from the work place.

Minority Access To and Participation In Post Secondary Education (A Position Paper - No. 15, State Education Department) - A statement of policy and proposed action by the Regents of the University of the State of New York to provide for equality of educational opportunity which means that access to educational resources shall be rendered as nearly as possible to all, regardless of race, religion, or national origin, regardless of low economic status and poor educational preparation at earlier levels not within the control of the individual.

Native American Education (A Position Paper - No. 22, State Education Department) - A statement of policy and proposed action by the Regents of the University of the State of New York to provide educational services for Native Americans on the State reservations and tribal lands.

New York State Human Rights Law - Guarantees equal opportunity to obtain employment without discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status or disability. Guarantees the use of places of public accommodation and the ownership, use and occupancy of housing accommodations and commercial space without discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, or disability. Prohibits discrimination on the basis of ex-offender status.

New York State Policy on Leaves for pregnancy, Childbirth and Child Care - Delineates the State's policy for such leave requests by State employees of either sex.

New York State-wide Policy on Sexual Harassment - A statement from the Governor's office of Employee Relations on sexual harassment applicable to all state entities.
* Reprinted from State University of New York Affirmative Action Digest 1995 - Section III pgs. 9 & 10