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S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10144
I N S E N A T E
April 30, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. BOTTCHER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to prohibiting the naming
of state buildings after public officers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "Prohibiting Elevation of Notorious Names (PENN) Act".
3 § 2. Article 50 and sections 1000, 1001, 1002 and 1003 of the execu-
4 tive law, as renumbered by chapter 770 of the laws of 1978, are renum-
5 bered article 60 and sections 1500, 1501, 1502 and 1503.
6 § 3. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 50 to read
7 as follows:
8 ARTICLE 50
9 NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES
10 SECTION 1000. NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES.
11 § 1000. NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
12 (A) "PUBLIC FACILITY" MEANS A BUILDING OR OTHER REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY
13 THE STATE OR A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE; AND
14 (B) "PUBLIC OFFICER" MEANS A PERSON ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE OR ANY
15 PERSON APPOINTED OR EMPLOYED BY THE STATE OR A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF
16 THE STATE.
17 2. A PUBLIC FACILITY SHALL NOT BE NAMED FOR A PUBLIC OFFICER DURING
18 THE PERIOD IN WHICH THAT PERSON IS A PUBLIC OFFICER.
19 3. A PUBLIC FACILITY SHALL NOT BE NAMED FOR A PUBLIC OFFICER WHO HAS
20 BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY. THE STATE SHALL REMOVE THE NAME FROM A
21 PUBLIC FACILITY NAMED FOR SUCH PERSON IMMEDIATELY UPON CONVICTION,
22 WHETHER OR NOT ANOTHER NAME HAS BEEN OFFERED OR APPROVED FOR SUBSTI-
23 TUTION AND RENAMING.
24 4. A PUBLIC FACILITY THAT HAS BEEN NAMED FOR A PERSON WHO WAS NOT A
25 PUBLIC OFFICER AT THE TIME OF THE NAMING MAY CONTINUE TO BEAR THAT NAME
26 IF THE PERSON SUBSEQUENTLY BECOMES A PUBLIC OFFICER.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11938-01-5
S. 10144 2
1 5. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION, A PUBLIC
2 FACILITY NAMED FOR A PUBLIC OFFICER PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
3 SECTION MAY CONTINUE TO BEAR THE NAME OF THAT PUBLIC OFFICER.
4 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.