2 state pols target pigs

ALBANY — Two Republican women state senators unveiled legislation on Friday to crack down on sexual harassment in the state.

Sens. Catharine Young of Olean and Elaine Phillips of Nassau County said their bill was a response to the “tidal wave” of sexual harassment allegations that has swept the nation and would provide new protections to victims.

“While harassment can take many forms, from innuendo to outright assault, it cannot and must not be tolerated, at any level,” Young said.

Among other steps, the bill would ban secret settlements of harassment cases, prohibit mandatory arbitration for sexual harassment complaints and expand the definition of “employer” to include those who employ independent contractors.

The bill would also, for the first time, write a definition of sexual harassment into state law. Currently, there is no standard definition in statute, which has allowed victims to be subject to varying interpretations by judges, Young said.

Gov. Cuomo has vowed to include new anti-sexual harassment measures in his State of the State address in January.