What's happening
This bill creates a task force to study and recommend regulations for facial recognition technology in New York State.
Why it matters
Raises public awareness and debate. about the privacy, ethical, and security risks tied to facial recognition technology, potentially influencing future regulations that affect everyday New Yorkers.
Examines nationwide and global approaches. , meaning the task force could recommend adopting best practices or cautionary lessons from other places—shaping how New York might lead, lag, or diverge from trends elsewhere.
Provides a direct channel for recommendations to lawmakers and the governor. , ensuring that policy decisions on this sensitive technology are informed by focused research rather than industry interests or political expediency alone.
Enables cross-agency and legislative collaboration. by requiring state agencies and political subdivisions to supply information and resources to the task force, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of how facial recognition is currently used and its future implications.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Facial Recognition Risks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to internet and technology
- Referred to rules
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.
Study Facial Recognition Use
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Clyde Vanel
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6623
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
July 3, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to enact the "facial recognition technology study 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 may be cited as the "facial recognition technology study act".
§ 2. a. A task force is hereby established to study the proper regulatory approach to the development of facial recognition technology. For purposes of this act "facial recognition technology" shall mean technology capable of identifying or verifying a person from a digital image or a video frame or from a video source by comparing facial features from a given image with faces within a database.
b. The task force shall study:
(i) the potential privacy concerns that facial recognition technology presents to individuals and the public;
(ii) the regulatory actions other states, localities, or countries have taken with regard to the development of such technology;
(iii) the ways such technology can be misused or abused;
(iv) the best administrative methods for regulating such technology and how to prepare for future developments through innovation of such technology; and
(v) any other subject that is related to the intent of this act as determined by the chairperson.
c. No later than one year after the effective date of this act, the task force shall report its findings to the governor and the legislature, as described under subdivision b of this section.
§ 3. a. The task force shall be comprised of:
(i) two members appointed by the governor;
(ii) two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
(iii) two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13076-01-9
S. 6623 2
(iv) one member appointed by the director of the office of information technology services.
b. One of the appointments by the governor shall serve as chairperson of the task force.
c. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their services.
d. All departments, divisions, bureaus, commissions, districts or agencies of the state or any political subdivisions thereof shall, at the request of the chairperson, provide the task force with such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the task force to carry out its powers and duties.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to enact the "facial recognition technology study act"
Purpose or general idea of bill
Creating Task Force study and provide a report on facial recognition technology in the state
Summary of provisions
Section 1 specifies the title of the Act
Section 2 sets topic of the study, the date and timeframe for the report
Section 3 specifies how the members of Task Force will be appointed
Justification
Biometric artificial intelligence such as facial recognition technology is capable of identifying or verifying a person from a digital image or a video frame from a video source. In general, the technology compares selected facial features from given image with faces within a database.
As with many advances in artificial intelligence, there are countless beneficial uses, yet we must properly guard against abuse and misuse of the technology.
Some local governments around the nation have banned the technology while states are considering the same.
The FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY STUDY ACT would create a task force of experts to help New York determine the proper regulatory environment for the technology. We recognize that there are many benefits to using the technology. The challenge is how to use it properly for New York.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined
Effective date
Effective immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.