Bill > A01426

This bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly criminalize certain actions by police or peace officers related to body camera recordings, making these actions crimes of tampering with physical evidence and obstructing governmental administration. Specifically, it adds a provision to the tampering with physical evidence statute that makes it a felony for a police or peace officer to conceal, alter, or delete body camera footage or its audio recording when they believe it will be used in an official proceeding. Additionally, it expands the definition of obstructing governmental administration to include a police or peace officer intentionally turning off their body camera or its audio in situations where their department or agency policy requires it to be recording, which is classified as a misdemeanor. These changes aim to ensure the integrity of evidence collected by law enforcement and prevent interference with official proceedings.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1426