"Insisting that our local law be interpreted broadly and independently will safeguard New Yorkers at a time when federal and state civil rights protections are in jeopardy. There are many illustrations of cases, like Levin on marital status, Priore[,] McGrath and Forrest that have either failed to interpret the City Human Rights Law to fulfill its uniquely broad purposes, ignore [sic] the text of specific provisions of the law, or both. With [the Restoration Act], these cases and others like them, will no longer hinder the vindication of our civil rights."[FN3]
[*5]
In other words, the Restoration Act notified courts that (a) they had to be aware that some provisions of the City HRL were textually distinct from its state and federal counterparts, (b) all provisions of the City HRL required independent construction to accomplish the law's uniquely broad purposes,[FN4]{**61 AD3d at 68}
and (c) cases that had failed to respect these differences were being legislatively overruled.
There is significant guidance in understanding the meaning of the term "uniquely broad and remedial." For example, in telling us that the City HRL is to be interpreted "in line with the purposes of the fundamental amendments to the law enacted in 1991," the Council's committee was referring to amendments[FN5]
that were
"consistent in tone and approach: every change either expanded coverage, limited an exemption, increased responsibility, or broadened remedies. In case after case, the balance struck by the Amendments favored victims and the interests of enforcement over the claimed needs of covered entities in ways materially different from those incorporated into state and federal law."[FN6]