What's happening
This bill grants immunity from liability to businesses and nonprofits that assist crime victims on their premises unless gross negligence occurs.
Why it matters
Encourages businesses and nonprofits to help crime victims. by reducing their fear of being sued if something happens to the victim while they’re on the premises seeking emergency help.
Sets a higher legal standard (“gross negligence”). for holding businesses or nonprofits liable, which means they can only be sued if their actions were extremely careless or reckless, not for ordinary mistakes.
May increase safety for crime victims. by making it more likely that local businesses and organizations will allow victims to stay on site and call for help, rather than turning them away due to liability concerns.
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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 Helpers from Lawsuits
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Michael Gianaris
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
868
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS, GUNTHER, L. ROSENTHAL, JAFFEE, MONTESA- NO, RAIA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, FINCH, McDONOUGH -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.
LBD01484-01-9
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.