What's happening
This bill grants businesses and nonprofits immunity from liability for injuries to crime victims seeking assistance on their premises, unless caused by gross negligence.
Why it matters
Encourages businesses and nonprofits to assist crime victims. by reducing their legal risk, potentially increasing safe spaces for people in danger or distress.
Limits lawsuits against property owners. unless their actions amount to gross negligence, which sets a higher bar than ordinary negligence and may reduce frivolous or minor claims.
May impact the willingness of businesses/nonprofits to call for emergency help. since they are protected from most liability, possibly improving emergency response but also raising questions about accountability for unsafe premises.
Adjusts the balance between victim support and property owner responsibility. , which could influence insurance policies, liability planning, and how organizations train staff to handle emergencies.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Businesses Helping Victims
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Businesses Helping Victims
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Michael Gianaris
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4312
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS, GUNTHER, ROSENTHAL, JAFFEE, MONTESANO, RAIA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, FINCH, McDONOUGH, McLAUGHLIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to granting immunity from liability for personal injury, death or property damage incurred by a victim of a crime while seeking assistance upon the premises of a business entity or not-for-profit corporation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 9-103 of the general obligations law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
2-a. an owner, lessee or occupant of a premises, which is operated as a business entity or not-for-profit corporation, who provides assistance to a victim of a crime by allowing such victim to remain upon such premises for the purpose of summoning a police officer and/or emergency medical personnel, shall assume no responsibility for or incur liability for any personal injury, death or property damage sustained by the crime victim while upon such premises in the course of seeking assistance, unless it is established that such injury or death was caused by gross negligence on the part of such business entity or not-for-profit corporation.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04208-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.