What's happening
This bill allows district attorneys to electronically file certain records over ten years old, with exceptions for homicide and permanent records.
Why it matters
Streamlines record management for district attorneys. by allowing electronic conversion of old records, which can reduce physical storage needs and modernize archival processes.
Includes important safeguards. Homicide case records, permanent criminal records, printed/bound appeal volumes, and original indictments cannot be converted electronically under this provision, ensuring sensitive or historically significant materials are preserved in original form.
Adds a judicial and stakeholder oversight layer. The appellate division justices must approve electronic filing on a case-by-case basis, and they may require written consent from other state or local agencies with an interest in the records, balancing efficiency with accountability and transparency.
May improve public access and long-term preservation. of eligible records by digitizing them, while also protecting the integrity of records critical to justice, historical research, or victims’ rights.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Digitize Old DA Records
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
958
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ANGELINO, BRABENEC, K. BROWN, DeSTEFANO, LEMONDES, McDONOUGH, MILLER, MORINELLO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the judiciary law, establishing guidelines for district attorneys with regard to electronic conversions of certain records, books or papers in the care, custody or control of the district attorney which are more than ten years old
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 89 of the judiciary law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. Notwithstanding an other provisions of law, the justices of the appellate division of the supreme court in each judicial department may on application of the district attorney of any county within its judicial department, direct, by order, that the district attorney may electronically file, whether by electronic scan or microfiche, any records, books or papers in the care, custody or control of the district attorney which are more than ten years old, whether currently in use or not, the electronic filing of which in the opinion of the justices of the appellate division would serve no legal, practical or useful purpose, except any records, books or papers related to a homicide case, as defined under section 125.00 of the penal law, whether currently in use or not, as well as any permanent records of criminal cases, printed and bound volumes of cases on appeal and original indictments. The justices of the appellate division as a condition of such disposition may require the written consent of any state or local department or agency having an interest in such records, books or papers.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02653-01-5
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.