File #: Int 0388-2026    Version: Name: Establishing a hotline to report discriminatory harassment and unlawful discriminatory practices.
Type: Introduction Status: Laid Over in Committee
Committee: Committee to Combat Hate
On agenda: 1/29/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a hotline to report discriminatory harassment and unlawful discriminatory practices
Sponsors: Lincoln Restler, Farah N. Louis, Lynn C. Schulman, Virginia Maloney , Gale A. Brewer, Oswald J. Feliz, Yusef Salaam, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Eric Dinowitz, Shaun Abreu, Sandra Ung, Kamillah Hanks, Linda Lee
Council Member Sponsors: 13
Summary: This bill would require the Commission on Civil and Human Rights (CCHR) to establish a hotline for receiving reports from the public regarding discriminatory harassment and unlawful discriminatory practices. CCHR would offer hotline users support and referrals as appropriate. Beginning in September 2027, as part of its annual report, CCHR would report the number of complaints and inquiries received by the hotline, disaggregated by area of jurisdiction, borough where the alleged incident occurred where such location can be reasonably determined, and the five most prevalent bases for discrimination related to religion, race, and national origin. These numbers would also be published on CCHR’s website. CCHR would also describe how it informs the public about how to access the hotline, as well as how its outreach work is informed by hotline reports.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 388-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 388, 3. Int. No. 388, 4. Memorandum in Support, 5. January 29, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 6. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-29-26, 7. Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 8. Committee Report 2/25/26, 9. Hearing Testimony 2/25/26, 10. Hearing Testimony 2/25/26 additional 1, 11. Hearing Testimony 2/25/26 additional 2, 12. Appearance Cards 2/25/26, 13. Hearing Transcript 2/25/26, 14. Proposed Int. No. 388-A - 3/19/26

Proposed Int. No. 388-A

 

By Council Members Restler, Louis, Schulman, Brewer, Maloney, Feliz, Salaam, Brooks-Powers, Dinowitz, Abreu, Ung, Hanks and Lee

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a hotline to report discriminatory harassment and unlawful discriminatory practices

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 9 of title 8 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by renaming such chapter and adding new sections 8-901 and 8-902 to read as follows:

Chapter 9 [Actions by Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence] Anti-Discrimination Hotline.

§ 8-901 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

Discriminatory harassment. The term “discriminatory harassment” has the same meaning as set forth in section 8-603.

Unlawful discriminatory practice. The term “unlawful discriminatory practice” has the same meaning as set forth in section 8-102.

§ 8-902 Anti-discrimination hotline. a. Hotline established. The commission shall establish a hotline for the public to report discriminatory harassment and unlawful discriminatory practices, in violation of this title. As appropriate, the commission shall provide hotline users with information, resources, and referrals to city agencies or programs that provide assistance for individuals, organizations, or communities affected by such discriminatory harassment and unlawful discriminatory practices.

b. Reporting requirements. Beginning on September 30, 2027, the commission shall report the following information as part of its annual report pursuant to subdivision i of section 905 of the charter, and shall publish the data specified in paragraph 2 of this section annually on its website:

1. How the public is informed of the availability of and how to access the hotline, including any education and outreach activities aimed at eliminating discriminatory harassment and unlawful discriminatory practices, and an explanation of how the commission’s outreach and education efforts are informed by hotline reports;

2. The number of reports to the hotline established pursuant to this section alleging discriminatory harassment and unlawful discriminatory practices in violation of any section of this title, regardless of whether the commission initiates a claim on the basis of such report, disaggregated by:

(a) Area of jurisdiction;

(b) The borough where each incident is alleged to have occurred, where such location can be reasonably determined;

(c) The alleged protected category as set forth by any section of this title, as well as the top five most prevalent bases for discrimination related to each of the protected categories of creed or religion, race, and national origin, that appear in claims filed at the commission; and

(d) With regard to inquiries that do not result in a claim being filed, the alleged protected category as set forth by any section of this title, where such information is shared by an individual making a report, as well as the top five most prevalent bases for discrimination related to each of the protected categories of creed or religion, race, and national origin.

c. The commission may collaborate with other city agencies and offices as appropriate to consider proposals or recommendations for combatting bias, prejudice, intolerance and bigotry and preventing hate and bias-related incidents in the city.

§ 2. This local law takes effect July 1, 2026.

JLB

3/18/2026, 11:22 PM

LS 21464