Bill > S01086

This bill, known as the Empire State Licensing Act, aims to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to professional, occupational, commercial, or business licenses, permits, certificates, or related registrations, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. It amends various laws, including the Civil Rights Law, Public Officers Law, Tax Law, and Education Law, to prohibit discrimination based on immigration or citizenship status when issuing or renewing licenses. The act defines "license" broadly to include any state or local government-issued permission to operate, and "issuing entity" as any government body that grants such permissions. It also mandates that issuing entities create policies to evaluate relevant experience obtained domestically or abroad as an alternative to formal education or training, and to make application processes accessible in an applicant's primary language if English proficiency is not essential. Furthermore, the bill establishes confidentiality requirements for applicant information, preventing issuing entities from retaining or disclosing documents that prove an applicant's place of birth, except under specific legal circumstances like a court order. The act also repeals certain provisions that previously required U.S. citizenship or permanent residency for specific licenses and modifies existing laws to remove such requirements and allow for the use of individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) in place of social security numbers where applicable.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1086