NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4638A
SPONSOR: Sillitti TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the real property law, in relation to requiring real
estate brokers and salespersons to receive implicit bias training as
part of their license renewal process
PURPOSE:
This legislation requires an additional two hours of training, specif-
ically concentrating on implicit bias training and understanding for a
real estate broker, or salesperson as part of their license renewal
process.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 Amends Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 441 of the
real property law, as amended by chapter 320 of the laws of 2016 to
require an additional two hours of instruction pertaining to implicit
bias awareness and understanding. Further, this section defines implicit
bias.
Section 2 Amends Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 441 of the
real property law, as amended by chapter 392 of the laws of 2019 to
require an additional two hours of instruction pertaining to implicit
bias awareness and understanding. Further, this section defines implicit
bias.
Section 3 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation defines implicit bias as the attitudes or stereotypes
that affect an individual's understanding, actions and decisions in an
unconscious manner. On September 17, 2020, multiple New York State
Senate Committees received testimony from brokers and salespersons who
were identified in an outstanding NEWSDAY expose titled "Long Island
Divided" which detailed Long Island's Housing Market and the housing
discrimination that exists. "Long Island Divided" identified both
explicit and implicit bias that exists amongst the real estate industry.
During testimony on September 17th it became apparent that those testi-
fying were unaware the impact implicit bias could have on their jobs as
real estate professionals, which was incredibly disturbing to all. This
legislation seeks to use education as means to make these professionals
aware as to what implicit bias is, and the illegal and immoral impact it
has.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become law, provided, however, that if Chapter 392 of the
Laws of 2019 shall not have taken effect on or before such date, then
this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as
such chapter of the laws of 2019.
