Referred to: The Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee (Chairman

Roberts and Legislators Belfiglio, Donaldson, R. Parete and Rodriguez)

Legislator Jennifer Schwartz Berky offers the following:

WHEREAS, all human beings should be offered the opportunity to live in a

land equally free from prejudice and persecution; and

 WHEREAS, the fundamental principles of human rights were acknowledged

and codified on a global stage in 1948 with the adoption of the Universal Declaration

on Human Rights which recognized that these rights are inherent to all human beings,

whatever his or her nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, race,

religion, language, or any other status; and

 WHEREAS, having identified that members of the transgender community

continue to face discrimination in the workplace, when seeking housing, and in many

other instances, the New York State Assembly, for the ninth consecutive year, has

passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA); and

 WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature is currently considering a local law

prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity, as Ulster County seeks to

be a leader in guaranteeing that every individual who works, lives or visits Ulster

County is treated with respect and dignity in a haven of tolerance and acceptance;

now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature applauds the New York State

Assembly’s passage of Assembly Bill A4558B and encourages the New York State

Senate to advance Senate Bill S61B to amend the Executive Law, the Civil Rights

Law and the Education Law in relation to prohibiting discrimination based on gender

identity or expression; and to amend the Penal Law and the Criminal Procedures Law

in relation to including offenses regarding gender identity or expression within the

list of offenses subject to treatment as hate crimes; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall forward copies

of this resolution to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority and Minority

Leaders, Senate Investigations and Government Operation Committee Chair, all

Ulster County elected Senators, 

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES:

No Action Taken in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on June 20,

2016

Passed Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on _____________,

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE