STATE OF NEW YORK
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8344
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
October 20, 2021
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Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the state law, in relation to removing the words "E
pluribus unum" from the motto on the arms and flag of the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 70 of the state law, as amended by section 1 of
2 part U of chapter 58 of the laws of 2020, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 70. Description of the arms of the state and the state flag. The
4 device of arms of this state is hereby declared to be correctly
5 described as follows:
6 Charge. Azure, in a landscape, the sun in fess, rising in splendor or,
7 behind a range of three mountains, the middle one the highest; in base a
8 ship and sloop under sail, passing and about to meet on a river,
9 bordered below by a grassy shore fringed with shrubs, all proper.
10 Crest. On a wreath azure and or, an American eagle proper, rising to
11 the dexter from a two-thirds of a globe terrestrial, showing the north
12 Atlantic ocean with outlines of its shores.
13 Supporters. On a quasi compartment formed by the extension of the
14 scroll.
15 Dexter. The figure of Liberty proper, her hair disheveled and deco-
16 rated with pearls, vested azure, sandaled gules, about the waist a cinc-
17 ture or, fringed gules, a mantle of the last depending from the shoul-
18 ders behind to the feet, in the dexter hand a staff ensigned with a
19 Phrygian cap or, the sinister arm embowed, the hand supporting the
20 shield at the dexter chief point, a royal crown by her sinister foot
21 dejected.
22 Sinister. The figure of Justice proper, her hair disheveled and deco-
23 rated with pearls, vested or, about the waist a cincture azure, fringed
24 gules, sandaled and mantled as Liberty, bound about the eyes with a
25 fillet proper, in the dexter hand a straight sword hilted or, erect,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13106-02-1
A. 8344 2
1 resting on the sinister chief point of the shield, the sinister arm
2 embowed, holding before her her scales proper.
3 Motto. On a scroll below the shield argent, in sable, [two lines. On
4 line one,] Excelsior [and on line two, E pluribus unum].
5 State flag. The state flag is hereby declared to be blue, charged with
6 the arms of the state in the colors as described in the blazon of this
7 section.
8 § 2. (a) Any state flag, object, or printed materials containing the
9 depiction of the former arms of the state may continue to be used until
10 such flag, object, or printed materials' useful life has expired or
11 until the person possessing such flag, object, or printed material
12 replaces it. Such continued use shall not constitute a violation of
13 section seventy-two of the state law.
14 (b) Any electronic depiction of the arms of the state shall be updated
15 within 60 days of the effective date of this act.
16 (c) No state agency, local government, or public authority shall be
17 required to replace a flag solely because such flag contains the former
18 arms of the state.
19 § 3. The secretary of state shall begin to use the new seal as of the
20 effective date of this act.
21 § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
22 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the department of
23 state is authorized to take any action, including entering into
24 contracts, that is necessary for the timely implementation of this act
25 on its effective date.