New Statute of Limitations fo NY Discrimination Complaints

By M. C. Millman

New Yorkers who experience unlawful discrimination will have three years to file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights.

The new statute of limitations, which takes effect today, was recently signed into law and extends the statute of limitations from one year to three years for filing unlawful discrimination claims.

Prior to the enactment of this legislation, the New York State Human Rights Law allowed survivors of discrimination one year from the date of the alleged incidents to file an unlawful discrimination claim with the NYS Division of Human Rights. With this new amendment to the law, all unlawful discrimination claims for incidents occurring on or after February 15, 2024, can be filed within three years of the alleged discrimination to the NYS Division of Human Rights. Incidents occurring on or before February 14, 2024 would still require a claim to be filed within one year of the incident, or three years for harassment in employment.

The statute of limitations for filing all discrimination complaints in a New York court under the Human Rights Law remains three years.