# N.Y. EXC Law § 290: Purposes of article

> New York · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S290

## Section

- **Citation:** N.Y. EXC Law § 290
- **Heading:** Purposes of article
- **Jurisdiction:** New York
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** New York Code / Act EXC / Article 15 / Section 290

## Text

§ 290. Purposes of article. 1. This article shall be known as the\n"Human Rights Law".\n 2. It shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the state for\nthe protection of the public welfare, health and peace of the people of\nthis state, and in fulfillment of the provisions of the constitution of\nthis state concerning civil rights.\n 3. The legislature hereby finds and declares that the state has the\nresponsibility to act to assure that every individual within this state\nis afforded an equal opportunity to enjoy a full and productive life and\nthat the failure to provide such equal opportunity, whether because of\ndiscrimination, prejudice, intolerance or inadequate education,\ntraining, housing or health care not only threatens the rights and\nproper privileges of its inhabitants but menaces the institutions and\nfoundation of a free democratic state and threatens the peace, order,\nhealth, safety and general welfare of the state and its inhabitants. A\ndivision in the executive department is hereby created to encourage\nprograms designed to insure that every individual shall have an equal\nopportunity to participate fully in the economic, cultural and\nintellectual life of the state; to encourage and promote the development\nand execution by all persons within the state of such state programs; to\neliminate and prevent discrimination in employment, in places of public\naccommodation, resort or amusement, in educational institutions, in\npublic services, in housing accommodations, in commercial space and in\ncredit transactions and to take other actions against discrimination as\nherein provided; and the division established hereunder is hereby given\ngeneral jurisdiction and power for such purposes.\n

## Nearby sections

- [N.Y. EXC Law § 290 Purposes of article](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S290.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 291 Equality of opportunity a civil right](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S291.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 292 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S292.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 293 Division of human rights](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S293.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 294 General policies of division](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S294.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 294-A Statewide campaign for the acceptance, inclusion, tolerance and understanding of diversity](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S294-A.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 295 General powers and duties of division](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S295.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 296 Unlawful discriminatory practices](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S296.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 296-A Unlawful discriminatory practices in relation to credit](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S296-A.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 296-C Unlawful discriminatory practices relating to interns](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S296-C.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 296-D Unlawful discriminatory practices relating to non-employees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S296-D.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 297 Procedure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S297.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 298 Judicial review and enforcement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S298.md)
- [N.Y. EXC Law § 298-A Application of article to certain acts committed outside the state of New York](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S298-A.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEXC_A15_S290. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.