TheRemarksofSpeakerSheldonSilver Capitol,Speaker'sConferenceRoom Monday,May20,2013

ReformstoAssemblyPoliciesConcerning SexualHarassment
IhavejustcomefromDemocraticConferencewherewehadanopenandfrankdiscussionoftheJCOPE report,ourmishandlingoftheoriginalsexualharassmentcomplaints,andhowweshouldmoveforward fromhere. StandingherewithmeareMembersoftheAssemblyMajoritysomeofwhomarepartofabipartisan workinggroupIestablishedseveralweeksagotheTaskForceonSexualHarassmentwhichis chargedwithseekingoutsideprofessionalcounseltoassistinmakingrecommendationsonhowtoimprove Assemblysexualharassmentpoliciesgoingforward. Theserecommendationswillbemadeassoonaspracticable,hopefullybeforetheendofthislegislative session.Ihaveinsistedthatataminimumtheymustinclude: Providingforanindependentinvestigatorand/orcounseltoinvestigatesexualharassment complaints AndmakingallAssemblyMembersandsupervisorystaffmandatoryreportersofharassment Inaddition,Iwillbeintroducinglegislationbanningconfidentialsettlementsbyallagenciesofthe state. Iwillexpanduponthesepolicychangesinamoment. IwantNewYorkerstoknowthatIcaredeeplyaboutthisinstitutionanditsemployees,andthatIremain dedicatedtoourcoremissionofprotectingthosewhoaremostinneedofastrongandcaring government. Thedegradationandemotionalduressenduredbytheyoungwomenidentifiedinthereport,whowere harassedwhiletheyservedintheAssembly,weighsheavilyonme. WhenIbecameSpeakeroftheAssembly,Imaderegularsexualharassmenttrainingarequirementfor everyassemblymemberandeverymemberofthestaff. Ialsomadesurethatasystemwouldbeinplacetodealwithsuchmisconductshoulditoccur. ThatIallowedthissystemtobebypassedinthefirstinstance,eventhoughIbelievedIwasactingingood faith,wasafailureonmypartandnowthatweknowtheatrociousnessofthemisconduct,itonlymakes thefailuremoreglaring. IacceptthecriticismanddeeplyregretnotreferringtheoriginalcomplainttotheAssemblysEthicsand GuidanceCommittee,andforthisIamsorry. EverymemberandemployeeoftheAssembly,everyemployeeoftheStateofNewYorkandforthat matter,everypersonwhoworksintheStateofNewYorkhastherighttogotoworkandbeconfident thatharassmentofanykindwillnotbetolerated. Theyshouldbeequallyasconfidentthatshouldsuchharassmentoccur,thesituationwillberemedied swiftlyandtheoffenderoroffenderspunishedappropriately. Theresponsibilityforthemistakesthatweremadeinthehandlingoftheoriginalcomplaintsrestssolely

withmeanditismyresponsibilitytoensurethatthosemistakesarenevermadeagain. Fromthisdayforward,neitherIastheSpeaker,northeOfficeofMajorityCounsel,noranymemberof mystaffwillhaveanyinvolvementinethicscomplaintsmadeagainstAssemblyMembersorAssembly staff. Abudgetwillbeprovidedtoestablishanindependentinvestigatorand/orcounselwhowillhandle harassmentcomplaintsfrominceptiontoresolution.Saidinvestigatorand/orcounselwillbeindependent oftheAssemblyMajoritycentralstaffandwillnotbeappointedbynorwilltheyserveatthewillof theSpeaker. AllcomplaintsofharassmentwhethermadeorallyorinwritingtoanyAssemblyMemberorsupervisory staffpersonmustbereferredtotheindependentcounselandinvestigator. Second,wewillmakeallAssemblyMembersandAssemblysupervisorystaffmandatoryreportersof harassmentcomplaints. AnyMemberoftheAssemblyoranyAssemblysupervisorystaffpersonwhoistoldbyanAssembly employeethattheyarebeingharassed,willhaveanautomaticandmandatorydutytoreportittothe independentinvestigator,orfacesanctionsthemselves. Third,wearebanningallconfidentialsettlementsbytheLegislature,theExecutive,stateagenciesandall publicauthoritieswhenexpendingstatefunds. IhavebroachedtheseideaswithMinorityLeaderKolbandtheTaskForcewillbegintoaddressthis immediately. Mistakesweremade.Ideeplyregretthem.ItismyresponsibilitytoensurethatallAssemblyemployees aresafeandtreatedwithrespect,andtoensurethatthesemistakesneverhappenagain. WhileIwishstrongerrulesandstrongerlawswoulddeterpredators,Iamtakingimmediateactionsothat mycolleagues,theemployeesoftheAssembly,andthePeopleoftheStateofNewYork,cantrustthat everythingpossibleisbeingdonetorectifythissituation.