New law requires colleges to post campus crime statistics and create plans to investigate and report hate crimes. Another new law allows middle and high school students to have access to free menstrual products at schools that do not provide them. This new law also requires the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to prepare a notice for agency employees and job applicants regarding student loan forgiveness programs.
A new law is legislation that has been proposed, debated, and passed by Congress or another legislative body. It becomes an official rule that everyone must follow. Generally, ideas for new laws are called bills and are labeled H.R. (House of Representatives) or S. (Senate). After a bill is introduced, it goes through a process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. If the bill passes both chambers of Congress, it becomes a Public Law, or Act. DCWP enforces many of the laws of New York City, which include the New York Constitution, laws passed by the City Council and other legislative bodies, and decisions made by the courts that interpret those laws.
To learn more about how a federal law becomes a new law, click here to read the Washington Post article, “How Our Laws Are Made.” To view current laws passed by the City Council and other legislative and regulatory bodies, including those enforced by DCWP, please visit the Laws of New York City website, New York City Council Legislation Website, and NYC Rules.