Bill > A02362

This bill, known as the Hiring Outstanding Professionals in Education (HOPE) Act, introduces comprehensive anti-discrimination measures and procedural reforms for public school hiring practices. The legislation expands protections against discriminatory practices by defining various types of discrimination, including disparate treatment, disparate impact, and malicious treatment, across multiple protected classes such as race, age, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. For public school hiring, the bill mandates that certificated positions must be publicly advertised for at least 14 consecutive days, require competitive examinations or assessments involving at least three candidates, and prohibit appointments based on affinity or animus toward protected classes. The bill also provides new legal mechanisms for individuals who have been discriminated against, including a private cause of action for those qualified for public contracts who are denied equal opportunity. Additionally, the legislation introduces provisions for tolling (pausing) statutes of limitations during administrative investigations of civil rights complaints, allowing more time for potential resolution. The bill aims to create more transparent, equitable, and merit-based hiring processes in public education while strengthening protections against various forms of discrimination.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2362