What's happening
The Han Tak Lee Act requires New York to certify firefighters investigating arson, ensuring they are trained and tested on national arson investigation standards.
Why it matters
Raises the bar for fire investigations. By requiring certification and testing of firefighters on NFPA 921 standards, the bill aims to ensure that investigations into arson are based on the latest and most rigorous scientific guidelines, reducing the risk of wrongful arson convictions.
Improves accountability and public trust. Firefighters would need to demonstrate up-to-date knowledge and skills, which could lead to more accurate fire cause determinations and bolster confidence in the justice system's handling of arson cases.
Addresses past forensic controversies. The bill is named after Han Tak Lee, whose wrongful conviction was overturned due to outdated fire science; this highlights the importance of preventing similar miscarriages of justice by mandating current best practices in fire investigation.
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Who cares
Firefighters specializing in arson assessment
They would need certification requiring testing on NFPA 921 standards to verify training in distinguishing accidental fires from intentionally set fires.
Fire departments with arson specialists
They would need to account for the certification requirement for firefighters who assess suspected arson.
People investigated for suspected arson
The bill would require firefighter arson specialists to be tested on national guidelines covering arson-related cases.
Headline styles
Certify Fire Arson Investigators
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 40
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2067
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. KIM, MOSLEY, CROUCH, COLTON, HYNDMAN -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. BLAKE, COOK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting the "Han Tak Lee Act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and cited as the "Han Tak Lee Act".
§ 2. Subdivision 4 of section 158 of the executive law is amended by adding a new paragraph (g) to read as follows:
(g) Certify all firefighters who specialize in assessing arsons to ascertain they have received proper training to determine whether fires are caused accidentally or intentionally set. Such certification shall require such firefighters to be tested on "NFPA 921" standards, the national guidelines set by the national fire protection association to cover all aspects of arson-related cases.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03648-01-9
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.