Record-Keeping Protocols Must Be Updated To Comply With The Gender Recognition Act

The New York Gender Recognition Act took effect on December 21, 2021.  School district and BOCES recordkeeping protocols and procedures must be updated to verify compliance with the Act.

• Name Change: The Act amended New York Civil Rights Law Section 64 by adding new subsection 3 to provide that a name change order or other documentation of name change is sufficient to change an individual's name on any document or record issued or maintained by the state of New York or any subdivision thereof, or any private entity, including but not limited to, all school records for current and past students, archival records and marriage certificates. The failure of a public or private entity to comply with such request may constitute a violation of the Human Rights Law, the Civil Rights Law and any applicable local non-discrimination law. A refusal to comply may be the basis for a complaint to the New York State Division of Human Rights or other enforcement entity.