Bill > A05521

This bill amends the executive law and judiciary law to exclude undisposed cases from criminal history record searches. Specifically, when the Division of Criminal Justice Services or the Office of Court Administration conducts a criminal history record search, they must omit references to "undisposed cases," which are defined as criminal actions, proceedings, or arrest incidents that have no final disposition (such as a conviction, sentencing, or removal order) and have had no entries made in the records for at least five years. The bill provides exceptions for searches conducted for criminal justice purposes, bona fide research, or internal recordkeeping. The goal appears to be preventing potentially misleading or outdated information from appearing in criminal history reports, which could unfairly prejudice individuals whose cases remain unresolved. The act will take effect 180 days after becoming law, and during this period, the relevant agencies will work to update their criminal history records to ensure compliance with the new requirements.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5521