Cal. Civ. Code § 299
Penal provision
Operative Text
§ 299. Penal provision. Any person, employer, labor organization or employment agency, who or which shall wilfully resist, prevent, impede or interfere with the division or any of its employees or representatives in the performance of duty under this article, or shall wilfully violate an order of the division or commissioner, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary, or county jail, for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or by both; but procedure for the review of the order shall not be deemed to be such wilful conduct.
New York Executive Law § 299 establishes criminal penalties for anyone—including individuals, employers, labor organizations, or employment agencies—who willfully obstructs or interferes with the Division of Human Rights or its staff while they carry out their duties, or who willfully violates an order issued by the Division or its commissioner. A violation of this kind is classified as a misdemeanor, carrying potential penalties of up to one year of incarceration, a fine of up to five hundred dollars, or both. Importantly, the provision clarifies that pursuing a legal review of a Division order does not itself constitute the kind of willful conduct that triggers these penalties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Exec. Law § 299, property owners and managers who are subject to Division of Human Rights proceedings are expected to cooperate with Division employees and representatives acting in their official capacity, and to comply with any orders issued by the Division or commissioner. Operators who comply with investigative requests, respond to inquiries, and adhere to issued orders generally avoid exposure to the misdemeanor penalties this section establishes. Seeking a formal legal review of a Division order is explicitly recognized as a lawful course of action and does not constitute interference under § 299.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Exec. Law § 299 provides a layer of protection for the enforcement process itself: parties who obstruct or defy the Division of Human Rights face criminal misdemeanor liability, which can reinforce the seriousness of Division proceedings. If a tenant believes that a landlord or other party is actively interfering with a Division investigation or defying a Division order, that concern can be raised with the Division of Human Rights directly or through a tenant-rights organization familiar with the complaint process. Pursuing a formal review of a Division order is explicitly permitted under § 299 and is not treated as interference.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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