What's happening
This bill prohibits New York state and local law enforcement from collecting or keeping information on individuals' political, religious, or social views unless it's directly related to a criminal investigation.
Why it matters
Protects civil liberties by limiting government surveillance. The bill directly addresses concerns about law enforcement tracking individuals or groups based on their political, religious, or social beliefs, reducing the risk of profiling or targeting based on First Amendment-protected activities.
Raises the standard for data collection. Law enforcement would only be allowed to gather or keep such sensitive information if it is genuinely connected to a criminal investigation and there are "reasonable grounds" to suspect involvement in criminal conduct, preventing fishing expeditions or unwarranted data hoarding.
Affects a broad range of groups and entities. The prohibition covers not only individuals, but also associations, organizations, corporations, businesses, and partnerships, ensuring that the privacy protections extend to collective and institutional activities, not just personal beliefs.
Enhances transparency and trust. By explicitly restricting the type of information law enforcement can collect, the bill aims to build public trust in policing practices and reduce fears of government overreach into private beliefs and lawful associations.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Police Data Collection
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
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.
Limit Police Data Collection
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Walter T. Mosley
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3258
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 5, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to prohibiting state and local law enforcement agencies from collecting or maintaining certain information
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 837-t to read as follows:
§ 837-t. Specific information not to be collected or maintained. No state or local law enforcement agency, may collect or maintain information about the political, religious or social views, associations or activities of any individual, group, association, organization, corporation, business or partnership unless such information directly relates to an investigation of criminal activities, and there are reasonable grounds to suspect the subject of the information is or may be involved in criminal conduct.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09438-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to prohibiting state and local law enforcement agencies from collecting or maintaining certain information
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to protect privacy and civil rights of indi- viduals and organizations from unlawful surveillance by state and local law enforcement.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies among other entities from collecting certain information unless it relates directly to an investigation of criminal activities and there is a reasonable belief that the subject of the information is engaged in criminal conduct.
Section 2. Establishes an immediate effective date.
Justification
Since August of 2011 the Associated Press published dozens of articles regarding the surveillance by the New York Police Department of thou- sands of Muslim individuals at houses of worship, businesses, and college campuses throughout the Northeast United States. These activ- ities were conducted without reasonable suspicion. Moreover, the NYPD maintained files of these individuals in violation of the Handschu consent decree
(see,e.g.http://en,wikipedia.org/wiki/Handschu_agreement).
Prior legislative history
2017-18: S.3099 - Referred to Finance 2015-2016 S.1755 - Referred to Finance 2013-2014 S.2849 - Referred to Finance
Fiscal implication for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.