Bill Text: NY A02515 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Amended
Bill Title: Requires all retail establishments for on-premises consumption employing one or more persons as bouncers to require such persons to submit fingerprints.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-18 - held for consideration in economic development [A02515 Detail]
Download: New_York-2009-A02515-Amended.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 2515--A 2009-2010 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y January 16, 2009 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, FIELDS, ARROYO, P. RIVERA, ESPAILLAT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON, MAYERSOHN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to crim- inal history information for persons employed as bouncers at all retail establishments for on-premises consumption and in relation to the licensure and training of bouncers THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Section 3 of the alcoholic beverage control law is amended 2 by adding two new subdivisions 6-a and 9-a to read as follows: 3 6-A. "BOUNCER" SHALL MEAN A PERSON EMPLOYED BY AN ON-PREMISES RETAIL 4 LICENSEE WHERE THE BASIS FOR SUCH PERSON'S EMPLOYMENT IS TO GENERALLY 5 KEEP THE PEACE WITHIN SUCH LICENSEE'S ON-PREMISES RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT. 6 9-A. "CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION" SHALL MEAN A RECORD OF ALL 7 CONVICTIONS OF CRIMES MAINTAINED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BY THE DIVISION OF 8 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (C) OF SUBDIVISION FOUR 9 OF SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW. 10 S 2. Section 106 of the alcoholic beverage control law is amended by 11 adding a new subdivision 18 to read as follows: 12 18.(A) ALL RETAIL LICENSEES FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION THAT EMPLOY 13 ONE OR MORE BOUNCERS, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION SIX-A OF SECTION THREE 14 OF THIS CHAPTER, SHALL REQUIRE AN APPLICANT FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A BOUNCER 15 TO SUBMIT A SET OF FINGERPRINTS TO SUCH LICENSEE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN 16 CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION. SUCH CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION SHALL BE 17 OBTAINED ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION. 18 (B) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE LICENSEE OF AN ON-PREMISES 19 CONSUMPTION RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT SHALL REQUEST FROM A PERSON APPLYING 20 FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A BOUNCER A STATEMENT OF HIS OR HER PRIOR CRIMINAL EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD03403-02-9 A. 2515--A 2 1 CONVICTIONS IN THIS STATE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. PRIOR TO REQUESTING 2 INFORMATION ON PRIOR CRIMINAL CONVICTION FROM A PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER, 3 SUCH LICENSEE SHALL: 4 (1) INFORM THE PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER IN WRITING THAT SUCH LICENSEE IS 5 REQUIRED TO REQUEST HIS OR HER CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION FROM THE 6 DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND REVIEW SUCH INFORMATION PURSU- 7 ANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION; 8 (2) INFORM THE PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER THAT BEFORE SUCH LICENSEE REQUESTS 9 SUCH CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION, THE PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER HAS THE RIGHT 10 TO OBTAIN, REVIEW AND SEEK CORRECTION OF HIS OR HER CRIMINAL HISTORY 11 INFORMATION PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE 12 DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES; 13 (3) OBTAIN THE SIGNED INFORMED CONSENT OF THE PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER ON A 14 FORM SUPPLIED BY THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES WHICH INDI- 15 CATES THAT SUCH PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER HAS: 16 (I) BEEN INFORMED OF THE RIGHT AND PROCEDURES NECESSARY TO OBTAIN, 17 REVIEW AND SEEK CORRECTION OF HIS OR HER CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION; 18 (II) BEEN INFORMED OF THE REASON FOR THE REQUEST FOR HIS OR HER CRIMI- 19 NAL HISTORY INFORMATION; AND 20 (III) CONSENTED TO SUCH REQUEST. 21 (C) UPON RECEIVING SUCH WRITTEN CONSENT, SUCH LICENSEE SHALL OBTAIN 22 THE FINGERPRINTS OF SUCH PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER IN SUCH FORM AND MANNER AS 23 SHALL BE SPECIFIED BY THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES. 24 (D) SUCH LICENSEE MAY DESIGNATE ONE PERSON IN HIS OR HER EMPLOY WHO 25 SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO REQUEST, RECEIVE AND REVIEW SUCH CRIMINAL HISTORY 26 INFORMATION, AND ONLY SUCH LICENSEE, HIS OR HER DESIGNEE AND THE 27 PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER TO WHICH THE CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION RELATES 28 SHALL HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH INFORMATION. 29 (E) SUCH LICENSEE, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, SHALL PROMPTLY SUBMIT THE 30 FINGERPRINTS TO THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES IN A MANNER 31 PRESCRIBED BY THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND SHALL 32 REQUEST AND IS AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE FROM THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL 33 JUSTICE SERVICES CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION CONCERNING SUCH PROSPEC- 34 TIVE BOUNCER. 35 (F) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF ANY OTHER LAW TO THE CONTRARY, 36 NO PERSON APPLYING FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A BOUNCER SHALL BE CHARGED A FEE 37 FOR THE CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION. 38 (G) SUCH LICENSEE, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, SHALL CONSIDER SUCH CRIMI- 39 NAL HISTORY INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE-A OF THE 40 CORRECTION LAW. 41 (H) SUCH LICENSEE, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, SHALL UPON RECEIPT IMME- 42 DIATELY MARK SUCH CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION "CONFIDENTIAL", AND SHALL 43 AT ALL TIMES MAINTAIN SUCH CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION IN A SECURE 44 PLACE. CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVI- 45 SION SHALL NOT BE PUBLISHED OR IN ANY WAY DISCLOSED OR REDISCLOSED TO 46 PERSONS OTHER THAN SUCH LICENSEE, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, AND THE 47 PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER. ANY PERSON WHO WILLFULLY RELEASES OR PERMITS THE 48 RELEASE OF ANY CONFIDENTIAL CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION RECEIVED PURSU- 49 ANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION TO PERSONS NOT PERMITTED BY THIS SUBDIVISION TO 50 RECEIVE SUCH INFORMATION SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR. ANY UNAUTHOR- 51 IZED DISCLOSURE OF FINGERPRINTS OR CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION OBTAINED 52 PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL ALSO ENTITLE THE SUBJECT OF SUCH 53 FINGERPRINTS OR CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION TO RECOVER A CIVIL AWARD OF 54 DAMAGES RESULTING FROM SUCH UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE, TOGETHER WITH COSTS 55 AND REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES. A. 2515--A 3 1 (I) CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL 2 JUSTICE SERVICES PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE FURNISHED ONLY BY 3 MAIL OR OTHER METHOD OF SECURE AND CONFIDENTIAL DELIVERY, ADDRESSED TO 4 THE AUTHORIZED RECIPIENT. SUCH INFORMATION AND THE ENVELOPE IN WHICH IT 5 IS ENCLOSED, IF ANY, SHALL BE PROMINENTLY MARKED "CONFIDENTIAL", AND 6 SHALL AT ALL TIMES BE MAINTAINED BY THE RECIPIENT IN A SECURE PLACE. 7 (J) FINGERPRINTS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION CONCERNING A 8 PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER SHALL BE RETURNED TO SUCH PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER WITHIN 9 NINETY DAYS OF RECEIPT UPON A DENIAL OF EMPLOYMENT OR SHALL BE RETURNED 10 WHEN SUCH PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER LEAVES SUCH EMPLOYMENT. 11 (K) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES 12 SHALL PROMULGATE ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE 13 PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE CONVENIENT PROCE- 14 DURES FOR PROSPECTIVE BOUNCERS TO PROMPTLY VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THEIR 15 CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION AND, TO THE EXTENT AUTHORIZED BY LAW, TO 16 HAVE ACCESS TO RELEVANT DOCUMENTS RELATED THERETO. 17 S 3. Section 17 of the alcoholic beverage control law is amended by 18 adding two new subdivisions 15 and 16 to read as follows: 19 15. THE STATE LIQUOR AUTHORITY SHALL PREPARE AND DISSEMINATE INFORMA- 20 TION TO ADVISE LICENSEES OF ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION RETAIL ESTABLISH- 21 MENTS OF THE REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN THE CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION OF A 22 PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION EIGHTEEN OF SECTION ONE 23 HUNDRED SIX OF THIS CHAPTER. SUCH INFORMATION SHALL ALSO INCLUDE, BUT 24 NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING: 25 (A) THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION 26 CHECK, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON FORM AVAILABILITY, AND FINGERPRINTING; 27 (B) APPLICABLE CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS; 28 (C) THE REQUIREMENTS OF ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE-A OF THE CORRECTION LAW 29 RELATED TO THE PERMISSIVE USE OF CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION IN HIRING 30 DECISIONS; AND 31 (D) OTHER INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE TO PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS UPON 32 THE CONSENT OF A PROSPECTIVE BOUNCER INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO 33 DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES RECORDS, EDUCATIONAL RECORDS AND CREDIT 34 RECORDS, INCLUDING, WHERE RELEVANT AND AVAILABLE, PHONE NUMBERS, 35 ADDRESSES AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTENT AND POTENTIAL USES OF SUCH 36 RECORDS. 37 16. THE STATE LIQUOR AUTHORITY SHALL REQUIRE ALL PROSPECTIVE BOUNCERS 38 TO TAKE A TRAINING COURSE PRIOR TO ANY EMPLOYMENT AS A BOUNCER. SUCH 39 TRAINING COURSE SHALL INCLUDE IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES, CIVIL LIABIL- 40 ITIES AND POTENTIAL CRIMINAL LIABILITIES FACED BY THE EMPLOYING ESTAB- 41 LISHMENT AND THE BOUNCER FOR ABUSIVE, NEGLIGENT, AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, 42 LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTACTS, AND ANY OTHER TOPIC THE STATE LIQUOR AUTHORITY 43 MAY DEEM NECESSARY. 44 S 4. The alcoholic beverage control law is amended by adding a new 45 article 3 to read as follows: 46 ARTICLE 3 47 BOUNCERS 48 SECTION 30. BOUNCERS; LICENSURE. 49 31. BOUNCERS; TRAINING. 50 S 30. BOUNCERS; LICENSURE. 1. ON AND AFTER SIX MONTHS AFTER THE EFFEC- 51 TIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE, ONLY A PERSON LICENSED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTI- 52 CLE SHALL BE EMPLOYED AS A BOUNCER. 53 2. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS A BOUNCER, AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL 54 THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: 55 (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE AUTHORITY; A. 2515--A 4 1 (B) FINGERPRINTS: SUBMIT A SET OF FINGERPRINTS TO THE AUTHORITY IN 2 ORDER TO OBTAIN CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION; 3 (C) CRIMINAL HISTORY: SUBMIT A LIST OF ALL CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS OF THE 4 APPLICANT; 5 (D) TRAINING: COMPLETE THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6 THIRTY-ONE OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 7 (E) FEE: PAY AN APPLICATION FEE OF FIFTY DOLLARS. FEES COLLECTED 8 PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE USED TO FUND THE TRAINING PROGRAM 9 ESTABLISHED BY SECTION THIRTY-ONE OF THIS ARTICLE. 10 3. THE AUTHORITY SHALL ISSUE LICENSES TO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS FOR 11 EMPLOYMENT AS A BOUNCER. SUCH LICENSE SHALL BE OF SUCH A SIZE AS TO 12 ENABLE EMPLOYED BOUNCERS TO CARRY SUCH LICENSE AT ALL TIMES WHEN 13 EMPLOYED. 14 4. UNLESS A DETERMINATION IS MADE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS 15 SECTION THAT AN APPLICANT IS OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR A LICENSE, NO APPLI- 16 CANT WITH A CRIMINAL CONVICTION SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LICENSE. THE 17 DURATION OF TIME FOR WHICH SUCH APPLICANT SHALL BE INELIGIBLE FOR A 18 LICENSE SHALL BE NO SHORTER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE SENTENCE IMPOSED UPON 19 SUCH APPLICANT AS A RESULT OF SUCH CRIMINAL CONVICTION. AN APPLICANT 20 WITH MORE THAN ONE CRIMINAL CONVICTION SHALL BE INELIGIBLE FOR A DURA- 21 TION OF TIME NO SHORTER THAN THE LONGEST SENTENCE IMPOSED. 22 5. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION, 23 UPON CONSIDERATION OF THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THIS SUBDIVISION, THE 24 AUTHORITY MAY ISSUE A LICENSE TO AN APPLICANT WITH ONE OR MORE CRIMINAL 25 CONVICTIONS IF THE AUTHORITY DEEMS THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH LICENSE APPRO- 26 PRIATE. CRITERIA TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE DEPARTMENT ARE: 27 (A) THE NATURE AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIMINAL CONVICTION; 28 (B) THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT HAS ELAPSED SINCE THE APPLICANT COMPLETED 29 SERVING THE SENTENCE FOR SUCH CONVICTION; 30 (C) THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC; 31 (D) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CRIMINAL CONVICTION AND ITS RELEVANCE 32 TO EMPLOYMENT AS A BOUNCER; 33 (E) THE APPLICANT'S AGE WHEN THE CRIMINAL CONVICTION OCCURRED; 34 (F) THE CONDUCT OF SUCH PERSON BEFORE AND AFTER THE CRIMINAL 35 CONVICTION; 36 (G) EVIDENCE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN REHABILITATED; AND 37 (H) ANY OTHER CRITERIA THE AUTHORITY DEEMS RELEVANT. 38 6. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE HEREBY AUTHORIZED 39 TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE. IN PROVIDING SUCH ENFORCEMENT 40 SUCH OFFICERS MAY REQUEST ANY BOUNCER TO PRODUCE HIS OR HER LICENSE 41 ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE. ANY BOUNCER WHO FAILS TO PRODUCE SUCH 42 LICENSE WHEN REQUESTED SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A FINE OF NO MORE THAN THIR- 43 TY-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, TERM OF IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING ONE YEAR, OR 44 BOTH SUCH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT. 45 S 31. BOUNCERS; TRAINING. AN APPLICANT FOR A LICENSE ISSUED PURSUANT 46 TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL COMPLETE THE TRAINING SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION. 47 SUCH TRAINING SHALL BE PROVIDED BY AUTHORIZED AGENCIES OF THE AUTHORITY, 48 AND SHALL EMPHASIZE AND CONSIST OF: 49 1. AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DOOR 50 SUPERVISOR; 51 2. AN AWARENESS OF APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS; 52 3. AN UNDERSTANDING OF USING AGREED UPON CRITERIA FOR ALLOWING ENTRY 53 TO A PREMISES; 54 4. AN UNDERSTANDING OF PROCEDURES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO NON- 55 VIOLENT RESTRAINT, USED FOR THE MONITORING AND SUPERVISION OF PERSONS 56 WITHIN THE PREMISES AND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH PROCEDURES; A. 2515--A 5 1 5. AN APPRECIATION OF THE INCREASED RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL AND 2 SUBSTANCE ABUSE; 3 6. INSIGHT INTO INTERVENTION AND CROWD CONTROL; 4 7. AN UNDERSTANDING OF RECOMMENDED RESPONSES TO EMERGENCIES, ACCIDENTS 5 AND INJURIES; AND 6 8. BASIC FIRST AID. 7 S 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 8 it shall have become a law.