Requires the state to participate in the United Nations human rights council's universal periodic review by submitting a report in the capacity of a subnational stakeholder.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8517--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
October 1, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. BRISPORT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules -- recommitted to
the Committee on Finance in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the division
of human rights to participate in the United Nations for certain
purposes
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 294-b
2 to read as follows:
3 § 294-b. Participation in the United Nations universal periodic
4 review. 1. The state, through the division, shall participate in the
5 United Nations human rights council's universal periodic review by
6 establishing an interagency task force for the purposes of drafting and
7 publishing a report. The task force shall be led by the division, and
8 shall include representatives designated by the heads of any state agen-
9 cy or other political subdivision of the state the division deems neces-
10 sary for completion of the review. The division shall also invite
11 participation, on an advisory basis, from local governments, academic
12 institutions, community-based organizations and other stakeholders
13 deemed relevant.
14 2. The review shall include, but not be limited to:
15 a. A description of the methodology used and the consultation process
16 undertaken in preparation of the report.
17 b. A summary of the state's constitutional, statutory, and institu-
18 tional framework relevant to human rights, including applicable national
19 and state jurisprudence and existing human rights institutions.
20 c. An evaluation of the implementation of human-rights-related laws
21 and policies, as well as legislative or voluntary commitments and activ-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13663-07-6
S. 8517--A 2
1 ities by state and local human rights bodies, including but not limited
2 to, the universal declaration of human rights, human rights treaties of
3 which the United States has ratified, and any commitments which the
4 United States has made to the United Nations human rights council
5 regarding the universal periodic review.
6 d. Identification of achievements, best practices, challenges, and
7 constraints.
8 e. Recommendations for key priorities the state should implement to
9 overcome constraints and improve human rights conditions on the ground.
10 f. Identification of areas where agencies may require additional
11 resources, monetary or otherwise.
12 3. The report shall be drafted and completed by November thirtieth,
13 two thousand twenty-six in accordance with the one year extension given
14 to the United States to conduct its scheduled universal periodic review.
15 4. Upon completion, the division shall be required to submit the
16 report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the
17 speaker of the assembly, and the United States department of state, and
18 to publish the report on the division's website so that it is publicly
19 accessible. Additionally, the division may submit the report to the
20 United Nations' human rights system strictly for the purposes of receiv-
21 ing technical feedback and improving state human rights practices. Any
22 submission should clearly state that it is submitted solely in the
23 capacity of a subnational stakeholder, does not purport to represent or
24 bind the United States and is intended exclusively to inform and improve
25 state-level human rights governance.
26 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
