NY State Senate Bill 2021-S4352

Senate Bill S4352

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Relates to requiring the release of body camera recordings in instances where an officer uses force within thirty days of such incident

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Codes Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to codes
Feb 03, 2021	referred to codes

2021-S4352 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Codes
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §837-w, Exec L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S4343

2021-S4352 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the release of body camera recordings in instances where an officer fires a gun and hits someone or could have caused injury, uses a stun gun, or makes use of any other force that causes harm within thirty days of such incident.

2021-S4352 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S4352

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the release
of body camera recordings in instances where an officer fires a gun and
hits someone or could have caused injury, uses a stun gun, or makes use
of any other force that causes harm within thirty days of such incident

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This is to increase transparency by requiring that body camera footage
is released to the public after 30 days.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Police agencies shall release body camera recording of instances where a
police officer or peace officer: (a) fires a gun and hits someone or
could have caused injury; (b)uses a stun gun; or (c) makes use of any
other force that causes harm. Such body camera recordings shall be

released within thirty days of such instance.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York City was one of the first major cities in the country to imple-
ment body cameras on their officers. The goal of implementing these body
cameras was to increase the transparency of police interactions with the
public. Releasing footage to the public will protect officers who are
doing their job well and hold those who aren't accountable. In further-
ance of that goal this bill aims to make these interactions available
for public view within 30 days. If we are serious about reform then we
should aim to be transparent with the public for whom these reform are
long overdue.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

A.10748 of 2020; Referred to Governmental Operations

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2021-S4352 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4352
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 3, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
 
 AN  ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the release
   of body camera recordings in instances where an officer  fires  a  gun
   and  hits  someone  or  could  have caused injury, uses a stun gun, or
   makes use of any other force that causes harm within  thirty  days  of
   such incident
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section  837-w
 to read as follows:
   § 837-W. BODY CAMERA RECORDINGS RELEASE; USE OF FORCE. 1. POLICE AGEN-
 CIES  SHALL  RELEASE  BODY CAMERA RECORDINGS OF INSTANCES WHERE A POLICE
 OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER: (A) FIRES A GUN AND HITS SOMEONE OR COULD HAVE
 CAUSED INJURY; (B) USES A STUN GUN; OR (C) MAKES USE OF ANY OTHER  FORCE
 THAT  CAUSES  HARM. SUCH BODY CAMERA RECORDINGS SHALL BE RELEASED WITHIN
 THIRTY DAYS OF SUCH INSTANCE.
   2. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "BODY CAMERA RECORDINGS" SHALL MEAN  VIDEO
 AND  AUDIO  RECORDINGS  CAPTURED BY A CAMERA WORN BY A POLICE OFFICER OR
 PEACE OFFICER.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08084-01-1

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