N.Y. Executive Law § 300: Construction

§ 300. Construction. The provisions of this article shall be construed

liberally for the accomplishment of the remedial purposes thereof,

regardless of whether federal civil rights laws, including those laws

with provisions worded comparably to the provisions of this article,

have been so construed. Exceptions to and exemptions from the provisions

of this article shall be construed narrowly in order to maximize

deterrence of discriminatory conduct. Nothing contained in this article

shall be deemed to repeal any of the provisions of the civil rights law

or any other law of this state relating to discrimination; but, as to

acts declared unlawful by section two hundred ninety-six of this

article, the procedure herein provided shall, while pending, be

exclusive; and the final determination therein shall exclude any other

state civil action based on the same grievance of the individual

concerned. If such individual institutes any action based on such

grievance without resorting to the procedure provided in this article,

he or she may not subsequently resort to the procedure herein.