What's happening
This bill criminalizes impersonating someone by using their electronic signature without permission to defraud or gain benefits.
Why it matters
Expands the definition of criminal impersonation. to explicitly include the unauthorized use of someone else’s electronic signature, recognizing modern forms of digital fraud.
Addresses gaps in existing law. where digital signature misuse may not have been clearly prosecutable, thus offering new legal protections as more official and financial transactions move online.
Creates potential criminal liability. for individuals who forge electronic signatures to obtain benefits or cause harm, which could impact workplaces, financial institutions, and individuals relying on electronic agreements.
Aligns legal terminology. by referencing the State Technology Law’s definition of “electronic signature,” ensuring consistency across state statutes and making enforcement clearer.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Electronic Signature Impersonation
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
20 Co-sponsors
- Rebecca Seawright
- William Colton
- Sandy Galef
- Kenneth Zebrowski
- Jonathan Jacobson
- Catalina Cruz
- Jeffrey Dinowitz
- Vivian Cook
- Angelo Santabarbara
- Carmen E. Arroyo
- Nader Sayegh
- Anthony D'Urso
- Jeffrion Aubry
- Marianne Buttenschon
- Harvey Epstein
- Kimberly Jean-Pierre
- Inez E. Dickens
- Phil Steck
- Jaime R. Williams
- Maritza Davila
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
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.
Ban Signature Impersonation
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Roxanne J. Persaud
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5345
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 11, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, SEAWRIGHT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to impersonating another by using another's electronic signature
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 190.25 of the penal law, subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 27 of the laws of 1980 and subdivision 4 as added by chapter 304 of the laws of 2008, are amended and a new subdivision 5 is added to read as follows:
3. (a) Pretends to be a public servant, or wears or displays without authority any uniform, badge, insignia or facsimile thereof by which such public servant is lawfully distinguished, or falsely expresses by his words or actions that he is a public servant or is acting with approval or authority of a public agency or department; and (b) so acts with intent to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority, to solicit funds or to otherwise cause another to act in reliance upon that pretense[.]; or
4. Impersonates another by communication by internet website or electronic means with intent to obtain a benefit or injure or defraud another, or by such communication pretends to be a public servant in order to induce another to submit to such authority or act in reliance on such pretense[.]; or
5. Impersonates another person, without such other person's permission, by using the other person's electronic signature with intent to obtain a benefit or injure or defraud the other person or another person. For the purposes of this subdivision, electronic signature shall have the same meaning as set forth in subdivision three of section three hundred two of the state technology law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06971-01-9
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.