Bill > A01482

This bill enacts the New York Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act, which establishes a comprehensive framework for documenting and preserving records related to unsolved civil rights cases in New York state between 1940 and 1979. The bill creates a specialized collection managed by the state archivist that will compile records involving federal civil rights violations, such as conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, and violations of housing and personal freedom protections. A 13-member review board will be appointed by state political leaders to oversee the collection, with powers to obtain access to records, subpoena documents, hold hearings, and investigate civil rights cold cases. The review board will operate for four years, during which time it will identify, collect, and prepare civil rights cold case records for public disclosure, with the option to postpone certain disclosures to protect innocent parties. The collection will prioritize digitization and make records publicly accessible, with the archivist responsible for managing the collection, creating an index, and establishing criteria for record submission. When possible, the archivist will attempt to notify victims or their next of kin before records are publicly disclosed, and will implement policies to ensure the proper handling and preservation of these historically significant documents.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1482