New York State Senate Finance Committee to Consider Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Bill
By: Joseph T. Burns
With the transfer of power to a new presidential administration, much of America is turning against the controversial diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda. In Albany, however, the New York State Senate this week is likely to take a major step in the other direction. On the January 21, 2025 agenda for the New York State Senate Finance Committee is bill S.518, a proposal to mandate DEI training for local police officers, corrections officers, deputy sheriffs, state police, and other members of law enforcement and first responders.
The proposal requires the State Police Superintendent to develop DEI training courses for the law enforcement agencies and first responders covered by the bill. Training related to sensitivity to issues of race and gender are required to be part of this curriculum.
A prior version of this bill passed the State Senate in 2023 and 2024. While this bill was strongly opposed by the Senate Republican leadership in the last legislative session, every Senate Democrat backed the bill in 2023 and 2024. The State Assembly did not consider this bill in 2023 or 2024, and it remained in committee in the Assembly in both 2023 and 2024.
The bill is sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Roxanne Persaud (D-Brooklyn). It has not yet been introduced in the New York State Assembly in 2025.
We will continue to monitor this and other proposals under consideration by the New York State Legislature and provide updates when appropriate.
