STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1555--A
Cal. No. 875
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
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:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 5-508 of the election law, as
2 amended by chapter 396 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 2. (a) A victim of domestic violence may deliver to the board of
5 elections, in the county wherein such victim of domestic violence is
6 registered or intends to be registered pursuant to this article, in
7 person or by mail, a signed written statement swearing or affirming:
8 (i) that such person is the victim of domestic violence; and
9 (ii) that because of the threat of physical or emotional harm to them-
10 self or to family or household members, such person wishes for their
11 registration record to be kept confidential.
12 (b) Upon application made to the [supreme court, county court, or
13 family court, in the county wherein a victim of domestic violence is
14 registered pursuant to this article, the court may issue an order
15 requiring] board of elections pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivi-
16 sion, the board of elections shall ensure that any registration record
17 kept or maintained in accordance with this article and any other records
18 with respect to such [an individual] victim of domestic violence be kept
19 separate and apart from other such records and not be made available for
20 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
1 officials acting within the course and scope of their official duties
2 and only as pertinent and necessary in connection therewith. The confi-
3 dentiality of such registration records shall begin upon the board's
4 acceptance of such sworn statement and continue for four years from such
5 date. A new application may be made prior to the expiration of such four
6 year period.
7 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.