Creates a temporary state commission on personal privacy and provides for its powers, functions and duties; appropriation

5 Co-sponsors

• Helene Weinstein
• Mike Spano
• Nelson Castro
• Adam Clayton Powell IV
• William Boyland

2 Multi-sponsors

• John McEneny
• Annette Robinson

BILL NUMBER:A8156A REVISED 3/11/10

Title of bill

An act in relation to creating a temporary state commis- sion on personal privacy to examine and assess the privacy of individ- uals in the state of New York and to make recommendations relative to the protection thereof

Purpose

To establish a temporary state commission on personal privacy to study personal privacy and to make recommendations as to how privacy might be better protected.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 of the bill finds that personal privacy is a matter of serious public concern that needs to be carefully studied. Section 2 creates a temporary state commission on personal privacy and establishes its focus. Section 3 designates a dead- line for a report from the commission. Sections 4 and 5 address the composition of the commission, its employees, and its powers. Section 6 provides that the members of the commission shall serve without compen- sation, except that certain members shall be reimbursed for their neces- sary and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Section 7 provides for access to certain governmental resources. Section 8 sets forth the effective date.

Justification

New York State historically has been a leader in protect- ing the personal privacy of its citizens. Today, however, governmental agencies and commercial firms are constantly gathering and distributing more and more detailed information on the personal lives of New Yorkers. The rapid advancement in technology in recent years has created new potential threats to the privacy of individuals. The ability to use such technology to collect, collate, and transmit personal data now allows isolated pieces of information to be compiled into profiles of an indi- vidual. No state or federal agency has the responsibility for protect- ing, or even understanding, personal privacy in a comprehensive way. Traditionally federal and state law has treated privacy not as a compre- hensive whole, but rather in fragments such as medical privacy, tele- phone privacy, or credit card privacy. At the very least, governments should understand the facts and issues involved in what is happening, and should not wait until threats to privacy have become a fait accom- pli. This bill would help the State, in a thoughtful manner, ways we might enhance protections of individuals' privacy.

Fiscal implications

Minimal.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.