On 3/13/2023, S3255 passed the NYS Senate and was delivered to the Assembly. 

This Anti-Discrimination Bill is so important to school-children and governmental employees facing discrimination in the State of New York.

Currently, when suing many governmental defendants for discrimination, such as school districts, victims only have one year to bring their claims (except for sexual harassment claims) before the New York State Division of Human Rights. This bill would make the limitations period three years. 

The bill is particularly important to bridge the gap between suing the government and non-governmental actors. When suing a non-government actor for discrimination, a victim can bring a court case, rather than a claim before the New York State Division of Human Rights, under the New York State Human Rights Law, within three years of the wrongful acts of discrimination. 

However, discrimination court cases against the government are often subject to a notice of claim statute where the statute of limitations is effectively limited to ninety days. 

As a result, many victims of governmental discrimination are out of luck when brining claims because they did not act quickly enough. 

Often times, a claim against a school district for permitting harassment in school is an ongoing case where acts over years demonstrate the discrimination, but recent events only tell an incomplete story. 

This law will bring fairness to the state and protect victims of discrimination.  

We strongly support the passage of this Bill and hope that the Assembly passes it swiftly.

To bring a claim under the New York State Human Rights Law, Executive Law §296, (New York’s Anti-Discrimination Law), you have the following time-limitations:

1.      Suing a Private Party:

a.     An administrative complaint can be brought within 1 year of the alleged unlawful discriminatory practice per Executive Law §297(5).

b.     An administrative complaint for cases of sexual harassment in employment can be brought within 3 years of the alleged unlawful discriminatory practice per Executive Law §297(5).

c.      A court case can be brought within 3 years of the alleged unlawful discriminatory practice per Koerner v. State, 62 NY2d 442 (1984).

2.     Suing the Government: In addition to the rules to sue a private party, when suing the government, you also may have to file a Notice of Claim, within 90 days of the alleged unlawful discriminatory practice, prior to bringing suit. This requirement depends on who you are suing, but never applies to administrative complaints per Freudenthal v. County of Nassau, 99 NY2d 285 (2003), and is reserved only for court cases. Here is the complete list of when a Notice of Claim is required to be filed within 90 days of the discrimination throughout New York State:

a.     Village Government – Notice of Claim, pursuant to CPLR §9801, is likely not required, but no case is directly on point. The applicable statute seems to mirror General Municipal Law §50-i in its limitations and thus would be subject to Margerum v. City of Buffalo, 24 NY3d 721 (2015).

b.      Town Government – Notice of Claim, pursuant to Town Law §67, is required by Arnold v. Town of Camilus, 2021 WL 326886 (NDNY 2021) and Picciano v. Nassau County Civil Service Com'n., 290 AD2d 164 (2^nd Dept 2001).

c.     City Government – Notice of Claim, pursuant to General Municipal Law §§ 50-e & 50-I, is NOT required per Margerum v. City of Buffalo, 24 NY3d 721 (2015).

d.   School District – There is a split of authority as to whether Notice of Claim, pursuant to Education Law §6224, is required. Washington v. Borough of Manhattan Community College, 2016 WL 7410717 (SDNY 2016) and McKie v. LaGuardia Community College/CUNY, 85 AD3d 453 (1^st Dept 2011) say it is required while Keles v. Yearwood, 265 F.Supp.3d 466 (EDNY 2017) says it is not required.

e.      Public Library – Notice of Claim, pursuant to General Municipal Law §§ 50-e & 50-I, is NOT required per Margerum v. City of Buffalo, 24 NY3d 721 (2015).

f.      County Government – Notice of Claim, pursuant to County Law §52 as interpreted by Hami v. Chenango County, 2022 WL 1001530, (NDNY 2022) and also, by Picciano v. Nassau County Civil Service Com'n., 290 AD2d 164 (2^nd Dept 2001) is required.

g.     State Government – Notice of Claim is NOT required, except Notice of Intention required if filing in Court of Claims on an election of forums.

h.     Federal Government – State discrimination claim is wholly unavailable and must proceed with federal anti-discrimination statute.

To bring a claim under Federal Law, the type of discrimination will impact how much time you have to bring a claim.

1.      If your claim is for housing discrimination:

a.      An administrative complaint can be brought within 1 year of the alleged unlawful discriminatory practice per 42 USC §3610.

b.    A court case can be brought within 2 years of the alleged unlawful discriminatory practice per 42 USC §3613(a)(1)(A).

2.      If your claim is for employment discrimination:

a.      A condition precedent to bringing a court case or proceeding to an administrative hearing is filing with the EEOC either [per 42 U.S.C.A. § 2000e-5(e)(1)]:

                                                    i.     180 days; or

                                                   ii.     300 days if your proceeding initially institutes with a state or local agency having “authority to grant or seek relief,” and New York State has such authority.  

b.     If you are a federal sector employee (i.e., work for the federal government), be warned, your limitations period is just 45 days for you to contact the EEO Counselor at your place of employment / prospective place of employment per 29 CFR §1614.105