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November 30, 2000 Legislator Jacobs Moves to Advance Human Rights Legislation
Proposed Law Expands Protection to Include Gender, Age, Disability, Sexual Orientation, Religion, and Ethnicity Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) spoke before the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Nov. 29 in support of a proposed law that will expand the protections prescribed under current Human Rights legislation. The legislation, which was introduced by Legislator Jacobs and the Democratic majority, will extend the scope of the Nassau County Human Rights Commission and Open Housing law to include prohibitions against discrimination based on gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion and ethnicity. The current county legislation only contains language that prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color and national origin. According to Legislator Jacobs, the bill will add protections against discrimination in the selling, buying, financing, listing and leasing of housing and add prohibitions against discrimination by an employer, an employment agency, and by labor organizations. "As legislators we have the responsibility to ensure that every individual within the county is afforded an equal opportunity to succeed and enjoy their equal rights," said Legislator Jacobs in a joint statement of the Democratic majority. "By amending our current human rights legislation to include these new criteria we will have successfully accomplished this." After passing through the Judiciary and Finance Committees, the bill will come before the full legislature on December 11. If approved, it will take effect immediately. |