S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  1555--A
     Cal. No. 875
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 13, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. MYRIE, BIAGGI -- read twice and ordered printed, and
   when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections -- reported
   favorably  from  said  committee,  ordered to first and second report,
   ordered to a third reading, passed by  Senate  and  delivered  to  the
   Assembly,  recalled,  vote  reconsidered,  restored  to third reading,
   amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place  in  the  order  of
   third reading
 
 AN  ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the confidentiality of
   registration records for victims of domestic violence
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision  2  of  section 5-508 of the election law, as
 amended by chapter 396 of the laws  of  2017,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   2.  (A)  A  VICTIM  OF  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE MAY DELIVER TO THE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS, IN THE COUNTY WHEREIN SUCH VICTIM  OF  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE  IS
 REGISTERED  OR  INTENDS  TO  BE  REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, IN
 PERSON OR BY MAIL, A SIGNED WRITTEN STATEMENT SWEARING OR AFFIRMING:
   (I) THAT SUCH PERSON IS THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; AND
   (II) THAT BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL HARM TO THEM-
 SELF OR TO FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS, SUCH  PERSON  WISHES  FOR  THEIR
 REGISTRATION RECORD TO BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.
   (B)  Upon  application  made  to  the [supreme court, county court, or
 family court, in the county wherein a victim  of  domestic  violence  is
 registered  pursuant  to  this  article,  the  court  may issue an order
 requiring] BOARD OF ELECTIONS PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL ENSURE that any  registration  record
 kept or maintained in accordance with this article and any other records
 with respect to such [an individual] VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE be kept
 separate and apart from other such records and not be made available for
 inspection or copying by the public or any other person, except election
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03121-02-1

 S. 1555--A                          2
 
 officials  acting  within  the course and scope of their official duties
 and only as pertinent and necessary in connection therewith.  THE CONFI-
 DENTIALITY OF SUCH REGISTRATION RECORDS SHALL  BEGIN  UPON  THE  BOARD'S
 ACCEPTANCE OF SUCH SWORN STATEMENT AND CONTINUE FOR FOUR YEARS FROM SUCH
 DATE. A NEW APPLICATION MAY BE MADE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF SUCH FOUR
 YEAR PERIOD.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.