Assembly Bill A2206

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2206
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 14, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. BARRETT, SEAWRIGHT, DINOWITZ, DE LA ROSA, WEPRIN,
   REYES,  LAVINE,  QUART,  BRONSON,  GOTTFRIED, GLICK, RODRIGUEZ, SIMON,
   OTIS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental  Oper-
   ations
 
 AN  ACT to establish a task force to explore the effects of cyber-bully-
   ing in New York state and potential measures to address such  effects;
   and  providing  for  the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration
   thereof
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. A temporary task force is hereby established to conduct and
 submit a comprehensive study on the effects of, and potential methods to
 address, cyber-bullying.  The scope of such study shall include:
   a. identifying the most common victims of cyber-bullying by age, race,
 ethnicity,  religion,  gender,  gender  identity  or  expression, sexual
 orientation or any other identifying characteristic the members  of  the
 task force deem relevant;
   b.  determining  the most common mediums used in cases of cyber-bully-
 ing, including but not limited to, text messages, websites,  and  social
 media;
   c.  identifying the social and psychological effects of cyber-bullying
 on individuals;
   d. recommendations, based upon the findings of the task force, on  the
 prevention of cyber-bullying;
   e.  identifying  ways in which the state can better assist individuals
 who have been victims of cyber-bullying; and
   f. identifying measures other states have taken to address  cyber-bul-
 lying.
   §  2.  a.  The  task force shall consist of nine members, which to the
 extent practicable shall be experts in the fields of  child  psychology,
 technology,  law  enforcement,  mental health, or social services, or an
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD01232-01-1

 A. 2206                             2
 
 appropriate field related to the  mission  of  the  task  force,  to  be
 appointed as follows:
   (1) five members appointed by the governor;
   (2) two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
   (3) two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
   b.  The governor shall designate one of the appointees as the chair of
 the task force.
   c. The members of the task force shall  receive  no  compensation  for
 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
 incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.
   d.  All appointments shall be made no later than ninety days after the
 effective date of this  act.  All  vacancies  shall  be  filled  by  the
 appointing authority in a timely manner.
   § 3. The task force shall report its findings, conclusions, and recom-
 mendations  to  the  governor,  temporary  president  of the senate, and
 speaker of the assembly on or before July 1,  2023.  Such  report  shall
 also  be published on the website of the New York state office of mental
 health.
   § 4. This act shall  take  effect  immediately  and  shall  be  deemed
 repealed December 31, 2023.