New York News

NY Senate Votes To Expand Sex Harassment Law

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published June 19, 2014 at 2:11 AM EDT

The New York Senate has passed legislation to broaden sexual harassment laws — but it may languish because of an abortion-related legislative standoff.

The bill passed by the Senate on Wednesday would expand sexual harassment laws to cover small businesses, which are now exempt.

Assembly leaders have included the measure in a broad, 10-point "women's equality bill" that also contains an abortion provision matching state law with the federal Roe v. Wade decision.

Many senators object to that provision and want the Assembly to divide the bill to allow separate votes on each item.

Assembly leaders have so far refused, saying the Senate should vote on all 10 items as a package.

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Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

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