S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9077
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 16, 2020
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DICKENS -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation to preventing genealo-
gy firms from sharing genetic information of individuals with law
enforcement without a signed waiver
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The section heading of section 79-l of the civil rights
law, as added by chapter 497 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as
follows:
Confidentiality of records of genetic tests AND INFORMATION.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 79-l of the civil rights law is amended
by adding three new paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) to read as follows:
(E) "GENEALOGY FIRM" SHALL MEAN ANY INDIVIDUAL, PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED
LIABILITY COMPANY, CORPORATION, JOINT VENTURE, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL ENTITY
WHICH COLLECTS BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES FROM INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
CONDUCTING A GENETIC ANALYSIS AND PROVIDING SUCH INDIVIDUALS WITH THE
RESULTS OF SUCH GENETIC ANALYSIS.
(F) "GENETIC ANALYSIS" SHALL MEAN CONDUCTING AN ANALYSIS OF THE DNA,
CHROMOSOMES, GENES, OR GENE PRODUCTS CONTAINED WITHIN A BIOLOGICAL
SAMPLE IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY INFORMATION ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL PROVIDING
SUCH BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, GENETIC ANCESTRY
OR A PREDISPOSITION TO ANY GENETIC DISEASE OR DISABILITY.
(G) "GENETIC INFORMATION" SHALL MEAN A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE, OR ANY
INFORMATION DERIVED FROM A GENETIC ANALYSIS OF SUCH BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE.
§ 3. Section 79-l of the civil rights law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 12 to read as follows:
12. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, NO GENEALOGY FIRM OR
ANY OFFICER, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEE, AGENT OR REPRESENTATIVE OF SUCH GENEAL-
OGY FIRM, SHALL SURRENDER GENETIC INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN
RESPONSE TO A WARRANT, SUBPOENA, OR FORMAL OR INFORMAL REQUEST FOR SUCH
GENETIC INFORMATION, UNLESS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SUBMITTED SUCH GENETIC
INFORMATION TO SUCH GENEALOGY FIRM SIGNS A WAIVER EXPLICITLY PERMITTING
SUCH GENETIC INFORMATION TO BE SHARED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. NOTWITH-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14277-01-9
A. 9077 2
STANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, A GENEALOGY FIRM WHICH REFUSES TO
SURRENDER GENETIC INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS
SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY ANY FINES OR FACE ANY OTHER
PENALTIES FOR SUCH COMPLIANCE.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.