2017-2018 session: change session
Public Safety & Consumer Affairs bills
Bills on prisons and jails, parole, crime victims, consumer protection and election law. They are heard in the Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, Correction, Consumer Protection and Elections committees.
Highest impact
Impact is how much a bill would change if enacted, from 1 (minimal) to 10 (transformational). Passage is our estimate of the chance it becomes law this session. How we score
- A1904Assembly
Create Prison Oversight Office
This bill establishes an independent Office of the Correctional Ombudsman to oversee and investigate New York State correctional facilities, ensuring transparency, accountability, and protection of…
Impact 9 · Transformational·0% to pass
Impact9/10TransformationalPassage0% - A7293Assembly
Create Utility Consumer Advocate Office
This bill creates the State Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate to represent and protect residential utility customers' interests in New York.
Impact 9 · Transformational·0% to pass
Impact9/10TransformationalPassage0% - A5240Assembly
End Forced Arbitration Clauses
This bill bans mandatory arbitration agreements in consumer, employment, and insurance contracts, making them invalid and unenforceable in New York.
Impact 8 · Significant·0% to pass
Impact8/10SignificantPassage0% - A6283Assembly
Create Electronic Voter Registration
This bill establishes an integrated electronic voter registration process within designated agency applications in New York State.
Impact 8 · Significant·0% to pass
Impact8/10SignificantPassage0% - A9785Assembly
Stop Unfair Business Practices
This bill strengthens consumer protections by expanding definitions, increasing penalties for unfair or deceptive business practices, and allowing class actions and mandatory attorney fees.
Impact 8 · Significant·0% to pass
Impact8/10SignificantPassage0% - A10360Assembly
Reward Time Off for Inmates
This bill creates a program allowing certain local jail inmates to earn merit time credits to reduce their sentences through participation in approved programs.
Impact 7 · Significant·0% to pass
Impact7/10SignificantPassage0% - A1905Assembly
Limit Solitary for Vulnerable Inmates
This bill restricts the use of segregated confinement in correctional facilities, prohibiting it for juveniles, people with mental illness, and those with permanent physical disabilities, and…
Impact 7 · Significant·0% to pass
Impact7/10SignificantPassage0% - A1909Assembly
Use Risk in Parole Decisions
This bill requires New York parole decisions to use risk and needs assessments, allows inmates to review and correct these assessments, and sets standards for overriding assessment findings.
Impact 7 · Significant·0% to pass
Impact7/10SignificantPassage0% - A4047Assembly
Guarantee Parole After Program
This bill requires that inmates who have completed two uninterrupted years in a temporary release program be granted parole.
Impact 7 · Significant·0% to pass
Impact7/10SignificantPassage0% - A5249Assembly
Ban Price Gouging
This bill makes price gouging during abnormal market disruptions a criminal offense in New York, allowing for both civil and criminal penalties.
Impact 7 · Significant·0% to pass
Impact7/10SignificantPassage0%
Most likely to pass
Bills not yet signed or vetoed, by Passage score.
- A6884Assembly
License Car Brokers
This bill requires automobile brokers in New York to be registered, increases bonding requirements, and updates related regulatory provisions.
Impact 6 · Moderate·Signed into law
Impact6/10ModerateOutcomeSigned into law - S3498Senate
Equal Rehab for Female Inmates
This bill requires that female inmates in New York State correctional facilities receive rehabilitation programs equivalent to those provided to male inmates.
Impact 6 · Moderate·Signed into law
Impact6/10ModerateOutcomeSigned into law - S6886Senate
End Credit Freeze Fees
This bill prohibits credit reporting agencies from charging any fees for placing, lifting, or removing security freezes on consumer credit reports.
Impact 6 · Moderate·Signed into law
Impact6/10ModerateOutcomeSigned into law - S8821Senate
Free Period Products in Jails
This bill requires New York correctional facilities to provide feminine hygiene products at no cost to incarcerated women.
Impact 6 · Moderate·Signed into law
Impact6/10ModerateOutcomeSigned into law - A5227Assembly
Sanitize Used Mattresses Required
This bill updates the definition of used bedding, sets sanitation rules for storing and transporting used bedding with new, and requires bedding sellers to undergo inspection at least once every…
Impact 5 · Moderate·Signed into law
Impact5/10ModerateOutcomeSigned into law - A6353Assembly
Enroll Inmates in Programs
This bill requires the prompt enrollment of inmates in assigned programs and prioritizes program placement for those denied parole due to incomplete programs.
Impact 5 · Moderate·Signed into law
Impact5/10ModerateOutcomeSigned into law - A7569Assembly
Define Secure Mental Health Facilities
This bill allows certain jail inmates needing involuntary psychiatric care to be transferred to secure mental health facilities, with custody possibly transferred to the Office of Mental Health.
Impact 5 · Moderate·Signed into law
Impact5/10ModerateOutcomeSigned into law - S6756Senate
Require Excavator Safety Training
This bill updates requirements for local governments and contractors regarding excavation safety, mandating training for excavators and annual reporting on underground facility incidents.
Impact 5 · Moderate·Signed into law
Impact5/10ModerateOutcomeSigned into law
Recently signed or vetoed
- S7992Senate
Expand Crime Victim Burial Aid
This bill updates laws to allow emergency awards of up to $3,000 for burial expenses for crime victims' families, clarifies reimbursement procedures, and includes these awards as reasonable funeral…
Impact 4 · Low·Signed into law
Impact4/10LowOutcomeSigned into law - S8431Senate
Broome Jail Holds Arrestees
This bill allows the Broome County Correctional Facility to detain individuals under arrest awaiting arraignment in any Broome County court.
Impact 3 · Low·Signed into law
Impact3/10LowOutcomeSigned into law - S6886Senate
End Credit Freeze Fees
This bill prohibits credit reporting agencies from charging any fees for placing, lifting, or removing security freezes on consumer credit reports.
Impact 6 · Moderate·Signed into law
Impact6/10ModerateOutcomeSigned into law - S3491Senate
Debt Collection Disclosure Required
This bill requires debt collectors in New York to provide accurate information about family members’ obligations for a deceased person's debts, prohibiting misleading statements.
Impact 4 · Low·Signed into law
Impact4/10LowOutcomeSigned into law - S7404Senate
Jail Used for Court Holds
This bill allows the Tioga County correctional facility to detain people under arrest awaiting arraignment in any Tioga County court.
Impact 3 · Low·Signed into law
Impact3/10LowOutcomeSigned into law - S5517Senate
Require Magazine Customer Service Number
This bill requires magazine publishers to include a clear customer service phone number on all subscription billing statements.
Impact 3 · Low·Signed into law
Impact3/10LowOutcomeSigned into law - S565Senate
Review UV Nail Dryer Safety
This bill requires the Department of Health to review the safety of ultraviolet nail dryers and authorizes regulations and health hazard notices for their use in nail salons.
Impact 4 · Low·Signed into law
Impact4/10LowOutcomeSigned into law - S6322Senate
Study Hepatitis C in Prisons
This bill directs the Department of Corrections to study and report on hepatitis C surveillance, prevention, and treatment among inmates.
Impact 2 · Minimal·Signed into law
Impact2/10MinimalOutcomeSigned into law