S 1660: Relates to acknowledging that the institution of slavery was an appalling tragedy in the history of this state.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1660 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE January 13, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, KRUEGER, PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investi- gations and Government Operations AN ACT to amend chapter 137 of the laws of 1817 relating to slaves and servants, in relation to acknowledging the tragedy of slavery in New York state The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Chapter 137 of the laws of 1817 relating to slaves and 2 servants is amended by adding a new section XXXII-a to read as follows: 3 § XXXII-a. Acknowledges that slavery, the transatlantic and the 4 domestic slave trade were appalling tragedies in the history of New York 5 state not only because of their abhorrent barbarism but also in terms of 6 their magnitude, organized nature and especially their negation of the 7 humanity of the enslaved person. The government of the state of New York 8 further acknowledges that the institutions of slavery and the slave 9 trade in enslaved persons are now and should always have been crimes 10 against this state as well as crimes against humanity. The government of 11 the state of New York formally apologizes for its role in sanctioning, 12 exploiting and perpetuating slavery and its vestiges, including the 13 enactment of slave codes that created the exploitation and abuse of 14 children, and the dissolution of their families as personified by the 15 life and legacy of Sojourner Truth. 16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD04679-01-5