For Immediate Release from Press Office: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation (S6874-A/ A8903-A) explicitly granting the Department of State the authority to discipline real estate professionals found to have violated provisions of the state Human Rights Law by revoking or suspending their license.
The bill further reinforces the State’s commitment to combating housing discrimination and strengthens the abilities of the Secretary of State to discipline licensed professionals for discriminatory behavior.
The new law also complements the Department’s existing regulations, which authorize the Secretary to discipline licensed agents and brokers that have engaged in any unlawful discriminatory practice.
On November 17, 2019, Newsday reported the results of an undercover investigation into housing discrimination on Long Island. The probe’s deeply troubling findings included evidence suggesting real estate agents on Long Island engage in discriminatory conduct with disturbing frequency—including imposing unequal conditions and steering clients toward certain neighborhoods depending on their perceived race or ethnicity.
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