What's happening
This bill requires law enforcement to report incidents involving individuals with diplomatic immunity to state and federal agencies and mandates annual statistical reporting.
Why it matters
Increases accountability for diplomats. By requiring law enforcement to formally report when individuals with diplomatic immunity are involved in potential crimes, the bill ensures there’s an official record even if prosecution is not possible, potentially deterring abuse of immunity.
Enhances intergovernmental oversight. Incidents must be reported not only to state but also to federal authorities (specifically the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security), creating an additional layer of transparency and enabling federal agencies to track patterns or serious issues.
Provides data for policy decisions. The mandated annual statistical reporting—while protecting personal identities—equips lawmakers and executive officials with concrete data about the frequency and nature of criminal incidents involving diplomats, informing future legislative or diplomatic action.
Balances confidentiality and legal compliance. The bill restricts public and unauthorized access to these reports, protecting sensitive information, yet allows for disclosure if required by federal law, maintaining compliance with broader legal frameworks.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Report Diplomatic Immunity Offenses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to finance
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2025
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. SQUADRON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT in relation to requiring notification to certain federal and state agencies when certain persons with diplomatic immunity violate the law
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "diplomatic immunity notification act".
§ 2. 1. Each incident, occurrence or circumstance where a person protected from detention, arrest, and/or prosecution by diplomatic immunity was in fact arrested, or would have been arrested but for their diplomatic immunity by a law enforcement or police agency concerning a potential crime that would be punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony, shall be reported by such agency to the division of criminal justice services and to the United States Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
2. Such report shall include the name of the person protected by diplomatic immunity; the person's title, position and/or assignment in the United States; and the date, time, location and nature of the incident, including the potential penal law violations prompting such person having been, or who would have been arrested but for their diplomatic immunity.
3. On an annual basis the division of criminal justice services shall issue a statistical report about the number of incidents reported pursuant to subdivisions 1 and 2 of this section to the governor, temporary president of the senate, minority leader of the senate, speaker of the assembly, and minority leader of the assembly. Such report shall also be transmitted to the United States Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Such report shall not disclose any personally identifying information.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00812-01-7
S. 2025 2
4. Reports created pursuant to this section and any information contained therein shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed or redisclosed to any unauthorized person or entity. Nothing contained in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit disclosure of information as required by federal law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act in relation to requiring notification to certain federal and state agencies when certain persons with diplomatic immunity violate the law
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require notification to appropriate federal, state and diplomatic authorities when individuals with diplomatic immunity violate the law.
Summary of specific provisions
This act requires that in each incident where a person protected by diplomatic immunity is stopped, questioned, detained or arrested by a law enforcement or police agency for the potential violation of the penal law, a specific set of federal, state and diplomatic authorities should be notified, and that law enforcement agencies report biannual summaries of such incidents.
Justification
Currently there are no formal notifications or record-keeping requirements at the state or federal level of incidents where diplomatic immunity is invoked to escape arrest, detention or prosecution. The "diplomatic immunity notification act" creates a system that will provide federal and state officials and the public at large with information about the use of diplomatic immunity in New York State, and protect the public from diplomatic staff who repeatedly violate the law.
Legislative history
2016: S173/A2730 - REFERRED TO FINANCE/ referred to codes 2015: S173/A2730 - REFERRED TO FINANCE/ referred to codes 2014: S7393/A3519 - REFERRED TO IGOV/Advanced to Third Reading 2013: A3519 (Rozic) - Advanced to Third Reading 2012: A00291A (Lancman) - Passed Assembly 2011: A00291 (Lancman) Codes 2010: A08051A (Lancman) - Codes 2009: A08051A (Lancman) - Rules
Fiscal impact on the state
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.