Directs the commissioner of the office of general services to erect a monument to be known as the "New York state Holocaust memorial" in the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza to memorialize the victims of the Holocaust and to educate the public about the history of the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and all manifestations of intolerance.
Summary
A07614 directs the Commissioner of the Office of General Services to erect a monument at the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza in Albany to be known as the "New York state Holocaust memorial." The memorial is intended to honor the victims of the Holocaust and to serve an educational purpose by informing the public about the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance.
The bill also requires the commissioner to seek input from organizations that provide Holocaust remembrance services regarding the monument’s design, programming, and location. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, and it does not create a new regulatory program or alter private rights; rather, it authorizes and directs a state memorial project on state property.
Impact
The bill would add a state-sponsored Holocaust memorial at Empire State Plaza and direct the Office of General Services to manage its erection and planning. It would affect state facilities and public commemorative policy, while also involving consultation with Holocaust remembrance organizations on the memorial’s design, programming, and placement. No existing statutes are amended, but the measure creates a new affirmative duty for a state agency.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows unanimous favorable committee action, with both the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Assembly Rules Committee voting in support without opposition. That suggests broad agreement around the bill’s commemorative and educational purpose. No committee transcript is available, but the recorded votes indicate the proposal was received positively and without visible controversy in committee.
Contention
There is no recorded committee debate in the materials provided, and the votes were unanimous, so no direct opposition is documented. Any potential points of discussion would likely concern the memorial’s location, design, programming, and the role of Holocaust remembrance organizations in shaping the project, but the available record does not show disagreement on those issues. The bill’s emphasis on educating the public about antisemitism and intolerance appears to be the central policy rationale rather than a contested issue.
Same As
Directs the commissioner of the office of general services to erect a monument to be known as the "New York state Holocaust memorial" in the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza to memorialize the victims of the Holocaust and to educate the public about the history of the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and all manifestations of intolerance.