S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1285
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 8, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. ZEBROWSKI, PAULIN -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law,  in  relation  to  immunity
   from  civil  liability  for  emergency removal of a child from a motor
   vehicle
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  vehicle  and  traffic law is amended by adding a new
 section 389 to read as follows:
   § 389. IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY FOR EMERGENCY REMOVAL OF A  CHILD
 FROM  A MOTOR VEHICLE. 1. ANY PERSON ACTING REASONABLY AND IN GOOD FAITH
 SHALL BE IMMUNE FROM CIVIL LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE RESULTING  FROM  THE
 EMERGENCY  MEASURE OF FORCIBLY ENTERING A MOTOR VEHICLE, AS SUCH TERM IS
 DEFINED IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE  OF  THIS  CHAPTER,  FOR  THE
 PURPOSE OF REMOVING AN UNSUPERVISED OR UNATTENDED CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF
 EIGHT  IF THE PERSON, WITHOUT NEGLIGENCE ON HIS OR HER PART AND PRIOR TO
 SUCH FORCIBLE ENTRY:
   A. DETERMINES THE VEHICLE IS LOCKED AND THERE IS OTHERWISE NO  REASON-
 ABLE METHOD FOR THE CHILD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE; AND
   B.  HAS  A  GOOD  FAITH REASONABLE BELIEF BASED UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCES
 KNOWN TO THE PERSON AT THE TIME THAT THE EMERGENCY MEASURE  OF  FORCIBLE
 ENTRY  INTO THE MOTOR VEHICLE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE CHILD IS IN IMMI-
 NENT DANGER OF SUFFERING HARM WHICH REQUIRES IMMEDIATE  ACTION  BY  SUCH
 PERSON  TO  REMOVE THE CHILD FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE AND SUCH PERSON USED
 NO MORE FORCE THAN WAS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY UNDER THE  CIRCUMSTANCES
 TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE CHILD.
   2.  ANY  PERSON  ACTING  REASONABLY AND IN GOOD FAITH PURSUANT TO THIS
 SECTION SHALL CONTACT EITHER THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, THE  FIRE
 DEPARTMENT  OR  THE 911 OPERATOR PRIOR TO SUCH FORCIBLE ENTRY OR AS SOON
 AS IS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE AND SHALL REMAIN WITH THE CHILD IN  A  SAFE
 LOCATION REASONABLY CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD05089-01-1

 A. 1285                             2
 
 AGENCY,  FIRE  DEPARTMENT  OR OTHER EMERGENCY RESPONDER ARRIVES AND UPON
 ARRIVAL SHALL IMMEDIATELY DELIVER THE CHILD TO SUCH EMERGENCY RESPONDER.
   3. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ATTEMPTS TO RENDER AID TO THE CHILD
 BEYOND WHAT IS AUTHORIZED BY THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.