NY State Senate Bill 2015-S8188

Senate Bill S8188

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Relates to analyzing and reporting on the vulnerability of electronically stored voter and election information

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Sep 02, 2016	referred to rules

2015-S8188 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §711-b, Exec L
Versions Introduced in 2017-2018 Legislative Session:: S1081

2015-S8188 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to analyzing and reporting on the vulnerability of electronically stored voter and election information, including but not limited to an examination of the vulnerability of registration records and voting machines, and to electronic hacking and cyber-attacks from both foreign and domestic sources.

2015-S8188 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S8188

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to
analyzing and reporting on the vulnerability of electronically stored
voter and election information

 PURPOSE :

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure the safety and integrity
of the electoral system in New York, specifically, from threats posed
by hacking and cyber-attack.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 - Creates a new section 711-b of the executive law which
will require the commissioner of the division of homeland security and
emergency services, in conjunction with the state board of elections
and the director of the office of information technology services to
conduct an assessment of voter and election related materials
susceptibility to cyber-attack and hacking. Additionally, this
information and assessment shall be reported to the Governor and the
Legislature bi-annually. The report must make recommendations about
securing such information.

Section 2 - Effective Date

 EXISTING LAW :

This is a new section of law.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a warning
to state election officials cautioning them that their computer
systems may be vulnerable to hacking and cyber-attack. The FBI
reported at least two incidences across the nation in which state
election databases were compromised by hackers.

This legislation will require the state of New York to evaluate and
analyze any vulnerabilities that may exist in its computerized
election databases. By analyzing and reporting on these potential
vulnerabilities, the state will be better able to proactively address
issues in security before they arise. By conducting this analysis and
acting upon it, voters can remain confident that their private
information stored by election officials and the integrity and
trustworthiness of elections remains safeguarded against
cyber-threats.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

This is a new bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediately

2015-S8188 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  8188

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            September 2, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules

AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to analyzing and  report-
  ing  on  the vulnerability of electronically stored voter and election
  information

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 711-b
to read as follows:
  S 711-B. ANALYSIS AND REPORT ON THE  VULNERABILITY  OF  ELECTRONICALLY
STORED  VOTER AND ELECTION INFORMATION. 1. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNC-
TION WITH THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES SHALL CONDUCT A  VULNERABILITY  ANALYSIS
AND  REPORT,  REGARDING THE VULNERABILITY OF ELECTRONICALLY STORED VOTER
AND ELECTION RELATED INFORMATION HELD  BY  EITHER  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
ELECTIONS  AND/OR COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTION. SUCH VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS
SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO AN EXAMINATION OF THE  VULNERABILITY
OF  REGISTRATION  RECORDS AND VOTING MACHINES, TO ELECTRONIC HACKING AND
CYBER-ATTACKS FROM BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC SOURCES.
  2. SUCH VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS AND REPORT SHALL  MAKE  RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING  SECURING  SUCH  INFORMATION  AND PREVENTING THE CORRUPTION OF
VOTER AND ELECTION RELATED INFORMATION BY HACKING OR  CYBER-ATTACK.  THE
COMMISSIONER  SHALL  REPORT  SUCH  FINDINGS  BIANNUALLY TO THE GOVERNOR,
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, SPEAK-
ER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND MINORITY  LEADER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY.  THE  FIRST
REPORT  SHALL  BE  MADE  WITHIN  ONE  YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
SECTION.
  3. ALL REPORTS AND OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED  TO  BE  REPORTED  UNDER
THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE UNDER ARTICLE SIX OF THE
PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.


 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD16050-01-6

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