The New York State Assembly this weekend passed a bill that would extend the jurisdiction of the State Commission Against Discrimination to cover civil rights violations in hotels, restaurants, stores, hospitals and theatres. The measure now goes to the Senate, where passage is expected.
Under the new bill, any person denied access to a public place could file a complaint with the commission against discrimination. If the agency found the complaint justified, it could issue a cease and desist order enforceable by the courts. The commission now has similar powers with respect to discrimination in employment, but in six years it has not taken an employer into court, having cleared up virtually all cases through conciliation.
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