Bill > S06345

This bill establishes the New York Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act, which creates a comprehensive system for collecting, preserving, and making publicly accessible records related to unsolved civil rights cases that occurred in New York state between 1940 and 1979. The bill directs the state archivist to establish a collection of civil rights cold case records, which includes documents related to specific federal civil rights violations such as conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, and violations of federally protected activities. A thirteen-member review board will be appointed by various state officials to oversee the collection, with powers to obtain access to records, subpoena documents, hold hearings, and create advisory committees. The board will have a four-year term and is required to submit reports to state leadership before transferring its records to the archivist. The collection aims to ensure the physical integrity of records, create a subject guidebook and index, and make records available for public inspection within 60 days of transmission, with a priority on digitization. The bill also allows for postponement of public disclosure in specific circumstances to protect innocent parties, and provides for reasonable copying fees with potential waivers. The ultimate goal is to fully inform the people of New York about historical civil rights cases and support historical research and governmental transparency.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6345