S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6076
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 12, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to requiring the
retention of all government emails for at least seven years for all
employees of New York State
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public officers law is amended by adding a new article
3-A to read as follows:
ARTICLE 3-A
EMAIL USE AND RETENTION
SECTION 50. DEFINITIONS.
51. PERSONAL EMAIL USE.
52. RETENTION OF EMAIL.
S 50. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS ARE
DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. "STATE AGENCY" IS ANY AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, BOARD, BUREAU,
OFFICE, COUNCIL, COMMISSION, AUTHORITY, PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, OR
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY PERFORMING A GOVERNMENTAL OR PROPRIETARY FUNC-
TION FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCEPT THE JUDICIARY OR THE STATE LEGIS-
LATURE.
2. "STATE EMAIL" IS ANY ELECTRONIC MAIL, INCLUDING METADATA, SENT OR
RECEIVED BY ANY STATE AGENCY IN PURSUANCE OF LAW OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THE TRANSACTION OF PUBLIC BUSINESS OF A STATE AGENCY, SUCH AS EVIDENCE
OF AN AGENCY'S ORGANIZATION, FUNCTIONS, POLICIES, DECISIONS, PROCEDURES,
OPERATIONS, OR OTHER ACTIVITIES, OR THAT IS RELEVANT AND USEFUL TO THE
EXECUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ONGOING AGENCY WORK.
3. "PERSONAL EMAIL ACCOUNT" IS ANY EMAIL ADDRESS AND ACCOMPANYING
ACCOUNT ON ANY COMPUTER NETWORK WHICH IS CONFIGURED TO SEND ELECTRONIC
MAIL, RECEIVE ELECTRONIC MAIL, OR BOTH, EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED TO AN
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09890-01-5
A. 6076 2
EMPLOYEE OF ANY STATE AGENCY BY THE STATE AGENCY WHICH EMPLOYS HIM OR
HER.
4. "OFFICIAL EMAIL ACCOUNT" IS THE EMAIL ADDRESS AND ACCOMPANYING
ACCOUNT ON ANY COMPUTER NETWORK CONFIGURED TO SEND ELECTRONIC MAIL,
RECEIVE ELECTRONIC MAIL, OR BOTH, WHICH IS PROVIDED TO AN EMPLOYEE OF
ANY STATE AGENCY BY THE STATE AGENCY WHICH EMPLOYS HIM OR HER.
S 51. PERSONAL EMAIL USE. 1. EMPLOYEES OF ANY STATE AGENCY SHALL NOT
CREATE OR MAINTAIN STATE EMAIL BY THE USE OF ANY PERSONAL EMAIL
ACCOUNT.
2. IN THE EVENT THAT ANY STATE EMAIL IS SENT FROM A THIRD PARTY TO ANY
PERSONAL EMAIL ACCOUNT OF ANY EMPLOYEE OF ANY STATE AGENCY, THAT EMPLOY-
EE SHALL FORWARD THAT STATE EMAIL TO HIS OR HER OFFICIAL EMAIL ACCOUNT
WITHIN FIVE DAYS.
S 52. RETENTION OF EMAIL. 1. EACH STATE AGENCY SHALL RETAIN STATE
EMAIL FOR A MINIMUM OF SEVEN YEARS.
2. EMPLOYEES OF EXECUTIVE STAFF AND OTHER SENIOR STATE EMPLOYEES, AS
DETERMINED BY REGULATION, SHALL RETAIN STATE EMAIL PERMANENTLY.
3. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL REQUIRE OR PERMIT ANY EMPLOYEE OF ANY
STATE AGENCY TO DELETE AN EMAIL WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF A REQUEST FOR
RECORDS UNDER ARTICLE SIX OF THIS CHAPTER, THE SUBJECT OF ANY RECORDS
RETENTION SCHEDULE DESCRIBED IN TITLE U OF THE ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS
LAW, OR THE SUBJECT OF ANY OBLIGATION TO PRESERVE RECORDS RELATING TO
ANTICIPATED OR FILED LITIGATION.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.