Protections against discrimination contained in New York's human rights law will be expanded to include the for-profit education sector under legislation approved Monday by Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

The new law applies to for-profit colleges, universities, career schools and English-as-a-second-language institutions through updating the definition of an educational institution in the law.    

"Every student in New York deserves the chance to learn without shouldering the unacceptable burden of harassment and discrimination in the classroom," Hochul said. "This legislation makes it absolutely clear that we have no tolerance for discrimination or harassment in as many of New York's schools and educational institutions as possible." 

The Division of Human Rights in New York has been in charge of overseeing and handling discrimination complaints from students at both public and private secondary schools, but the protections did not include for-profit schools. 

The measure was backed in the Legislature by Assemblywoman Jaime Williams and Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky. 

"All New Yorkers should be able to attend any school setting without being afraid of discrimination or harassment, and to the extent that students are harassed or bullied in school, remedies should be available to them under the New York State Human Rights Law," Williams said.