Bill > A01442

This bill amends the New York criminal procedure law to require judges to provide a jury instruction stating that biometric evidence (such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or DNA analysis) cannot be the sole or conclusive factor in determining a defendant's guilt. Specifically, upon request by either the prosecution or defense, the court must instruct the jury that "Any presentation of biometric evidence shall not be dispositive in the jury's decision." This provision aims to prevent juries from treating biometric evidence as infallible or automatically determinative of guilt, recognizing that such evidence, while scientifically valuable, can have limitations or potential errors. The bill will take effect 30 days after becoming law, giving courts and legal practitioners time to implement the new jury instruction requirement.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1442