S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1933--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 16, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Consumer  Protection  --
   committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
   recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the general  business  law,  in  relation  to  biometric
   privacy
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new article
 32-A to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 32-A
                           BIOMETRIC PRIVACY ACT
 SECTION 676. SHORT TITLE.
         676-A. DEFINITIONS.
         676-B. RETENTION; COLLECTION; DISCLOSURE; DESTRUCTION.
         676-C. RIGHT OF ACTION.
         676-D. CONSTRUCTION WITH OTHER LAWS.
   § 676. SHORT TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY  BE  CITED  AS
 THE "BIOMETRIC PRIVACY ACT".
   § 676-A. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE: 1. "BIOMETRIC IDENTIFI-
 ER"  MEANS  A  RETINA  OR IRIS SCAN, FINGERPRINT, VOICEPRINT, OR SCAN OF
 HAND OR FACE GEOMETRY. BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS SHALL NOT  INCLUDE  WRITING
 SAMPLES,  WRITTEN SIGNATURES, PHOTOGRAPHS, HUMAN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES USED
 FOR VALID SCIENTIFIC TESTING  OR  SCREENING,  DEMOGRAPHIC  DATA,  TATTOO
 DESCRIPTIONS,  OR  PHYSICAL  DESCRIPTIONS  SUCH  AS HEIGHT, WEIGHT, HAIR
 COLOR, OR EYE COLOR. BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS  SHALL  NOT  INCLUDE  DONATED
 BODY  PARTS  AS  DEFINED  IN  SECTION  FORTY-THREE HUNDRED OF THE PUBLIC
 HEALTH LAW OR BLOOD OR SERUM STORED ON BEHALF OF RECIPIENTS OR POTENTIAL
 RECIPIENTS OF LIVING OR CADAVERIC TRANSPLANTS AND OBTAINED OR STORED  BY
 A  FEDERALLY  DESIGNATED ORGAN PROCUREMENT AGENCY. BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS
 DO NOT INCLUDE INFORMATION CAPTURED FROM A  PATIENT  IN  A  HEALTH  CARE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              
             
                          
                                                                            LBD02422-04-1
 S. 1933--A                          2
 
 SETTING OR INFORMATION COLLECTED, USED, OR STORED FOR HEALTH CARE TREAT-
 MENT,  PAYMENT,  OR OPERATIONS UNDER THE FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PORTA-
 BILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF  1996.  BIOMETRIC  IDENTIFIERS  DO  NOT
 INCLUDE  AN X-RAY, ROENTGEN PROCESS, COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, MAGNETIC RESO-
 NANCE IMAGING, POSITRON-EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY SCAN, MAMMOGRAPHY, OR  OTHER
 IMAGE  OR FILM OF THE HUMAN ANATOMY USED TO DIAGNOSE, PROGNOSE, OR TREAT
 AN ILLNESS OR OTHER MEDICAL CONDITION OR TO FURTHER VALIDATE  SCIENTIFIC
 TESTING OR SCREENING.
   2. "BIOMETRIC INFORMATION" MEANS ANY INFORMATION, REGARDLESS OF HOW IT
 IS  CAPTURED,  CONVERTED,  STORED,  OR  SHARED, BASED ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S
 BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER USED TO IDENTIFY AN INDIVIDUAL. BIOMETRIC  INFORMA-
 TION  SHALL  NOT  INCLUDE  INFORMATION  DERIVED FROM ITEMS OR PROCEDURES
 EXCLUDED UNDER THE DEFINITION OF BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS.
   3. "CONFIDENTIAL AND SENSITIVE INFORMATION" MEANS PERSONAL INFORMATION
 THAT CAN BE USED TO UNIQUELY IDENTIFY AN INDIVIDUAL OR  AN  INDIVIDUAL'S
 ACCOUNT  OR PROPERTY WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO, A
 GENETIC MARKER, GENETIC TESTING INFORMATION, A UNIQUE IDENTIFIER  NUMBER
 TO  LOCATE  AN  ACCOUNT OR PROPERTY, AN ACCOUNT NUMBER, A PERSONAL IDEN-
 TIFICATION NUMBER, A PASS CODE, A DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, OR  A  SOCIAL
 SECURITY NUMBER.
   4.  "PRIVATE  ENTITY"  MEANS ANY INDIVIDUAL, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION,
 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, ASSOCIATION, OR OTHER GROUP,  HOWEVER  ORGAN-
 IZED.  A  PRIVATE  ENTITY  SHALL NOT INCLUDE A STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
 AGENCY OR ANY COURT IN THE STATE, A CLERK OF THE COURT, OR  A  JUDGE  OR
 JUSTICE THEREOF.
   5. "WRITTEN RELEASE" MEANS INFORMED WRITTEN CONSENT OR, IN THE CONTEXT
 OF  EMPLOYMENT,  A  RELEASE  EXECUTED  BY  AN EMPLOYEE AS A CONDITION OF
 EMPLOYMENT.
   § 676-B. RETENTION; COLLECTION; DISCLOSURE; DESTRUCTION. 1. A  PRIVATE
 ENTITY  IN  POSSESSION OF BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS OR BIOMETRIC INFORMATION
 MUST DEVELOP A WRITTEN POLICY  ESTABLISHING  A  RETENTION  SCHEDULE  AND
 GUIDELINES  FOR  PERMANENTLY DESTROYING BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS AND BIOME-
 TRIC INFORMATION WHEN THE INITIAL PURPOSE FOR  COLLECTING  OR  OBTAINING
 SUCH IDENTIFIERS OR INFORMATION HAS BEEN SATISFIED OR WITHIN THREE YEARS
 OF  THE INDIVIDUAL'S LAST INTERACTION WITH THE PRIVATE ENTITY, WHICHEVER
 OCCURS LATER. ABSENT A VALID WARRANT OR SUBPOENA ISSUED BY  A  COURT  OF
 COMPETENT  JURISDICTION,  A  PRIVATE  ENTITY  IN POSSESSION OF BIOMETRIC
 IDENTIFIERS OR BIOMETRIC INFORMATION MUST COMPLY  WITH  ITS  ESTABLISHED
 RETENTION SCHEDULE AND DESTRUCTION GUIDELINES.
   2.  NO  PRIVATE ENTITY MAY COLLECT, CAPTURE, PURCHASE, RECEIVE THROUGH
 TRADE, OR OTHERWISE OBTAIN A PERSON'S OR A CUSTOMER'S BIOMETRIC  IDENTI-
 FIER OR BIOMETRIC INFORMATION, UNLESS IT FIRST:
   (A)  INFORMS THE SUBJECT OR THE SUBJECT'S LEGALLY AUTHORIZED REPRESEN-
 TATIVE IN WRITING THAT A BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER OR  BIOMETRIC  INFORMATION
 IS BEING COLLECTED OR STORED;
   (B)  INFORMS THE SUBJECT OR THE SUBJECT'S LEGALLY AUTHORIZED REPRESEN-
 TATIVE IN WRITING OF THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND LENGTH OF TERM FOR WHICH A
 BIOMETRIC  IDENTIFIER  OR  BIOMETRIC  INFORMATION  IS  BEING  COLLECTED,
 STORED, AND USED; AND
   (C)  RECEIVES  A WRITTEN RELEASE EXECUTED BY THE SUBJECT OF THE BIOME-
 TRIC IDENTIFIER  OR  BIOMETRIC  INFORMATION  OR  THE  SUBJECT'S  LEGALLY
 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.
   (D)  THE  PROVISIONS  OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT APPLY TO A PRIVATE
 ENTITY WHICH OBTAINED INFORMED WRITTEN CONSENT TO  COLLECT  OR  STORE  A
 PERSON OR CUSTOMER'S BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER OR BIOMETRIC INFORMATION PRIOR
 TO  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS  ARTICLE,  PROVIDED  SUCH CONSENT WAS
 S. 1933--A                          3
 
 OBTAINED FROM THE PERSON OR CUSTOMER IN A MANNER  THAT  WOULD  OTHERWISE
 SATISFY  THE  REQUIREMENTS  SET  FORTH IN PARAGRAPHS (A), (B) AND (C) OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION.
   3. NO PRIVATE ENTITY IN POSSESSION OF A BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER OR BIOME-
 TRIC  INFORMATION  MAY  SELL,  LEASE,  TRADE, OR OTHERWISE PROFIT FROM A
 PERSON'S OR A CUSTOMER'S BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER OR BIOMETRIC INFORMATION.
   4. NO PRIVATE ENTITY IN POSSESSION OF A BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER OR BIOME-
 TRIC INFORMATION MAY DISCLOSE, REDISCLOSE, OR  OTHERWISE  DISSEMINATE  A
 PERSON'S  OR  A CUSTOMER'S BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER OR BIOMETRIC INFORMATION
 UNLESS:
   (A) THE SUBJECT OF THE BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER OR  BIOMETRIC  INFORMATION
 OR  THE  SUBJECT'S  LEGALLY  AUTHORIZED  REPRESENTATIVE  CONSENTS TO THE
 DISCLOSURE OR REDISCLOSURE;
   (B) THE DISCLOSURE OR REDISCLSOURE COMPLETES A  FINANCIAL  TRANSACTION
 REQUESTED  OR  AUTHORIZED  BY THE SUBJECT OF THE BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER OR
 THE BIOMETRIC INFORMATION OR THE SUBJECT'S LEGALLY AUTHORIZED  REPRESEN-
 TATIVE;
   (C)  THE  DISCLOSURE  OR REDISCLOSURE IS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL, STATE OR
 LOCAL LAW OR MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE; OR
   (D) THE DISCLOSURE IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO A VALID WARRANT OR SUBPOENA
 ISSUED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION.
   5. A PRIVATE ENTITY IN POSSESSION OF A BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER OR  BIOME-
 TRIC INFORMATION SHALL:
   (A) STORE, TRANSMIT, AND PROTECT FROM DISCLOSURE ALL BIOMETRIC IDENTI-
 FIERS  AND  BIOMETRIC  INFORMATION USING THE REASONABLE STANDARD OF CARE
 WITHIN THE PRIVATE ENTITY'S INDUSTRY; AND
   (B) STORE, TRANSMIT, AND PROTECT FROM DISCLOSURE ALL BIOMETRIC IDENTI-
 FIERS AND BIOMETRIC INFORMATION IN A MANNER THAT IS THE SAME AS OR  MORE
 PROTECTIVE  THAN  THE  MANNER IN WHICH THE PRIVATE ENTITY STORES, TRANS-
 MITS, AND PROTECTS OTHER CONFIDENTIAL AND SENSITIVE INFORMATION.
   § 676-C. RIGHT OF ACTION. ANY PERSON AGGRIEVED BY A VIOLATION OF  THIS
 ARTICLE  WHO  HAS SUSTAINED ACTUAL DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF SUCH VIOLATION
 SHALL HAVE A RIGHT OF ACTION  IN  SUPREME  COURT  AGAINST  AN  OFFENDING
 PARTY. A PREVAILING PARTY MAY RECOVER FOR EACH VIOLATION:
   1.  AGAINST  A PRIVATE ENTITY THAT NEGLIGENTLY VIOLATES A PROVISION OF
 THIS ARTICLE, LIQUIDATED DAMAGES  OF  ONE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  OR  ACTUAL
 DAMAGES, WHICHEVER IS GREATER;
   2.  AGAINST A PRIVATE ENTITY THAT INTENTIONALLY OR RECKLESSLY VIOLATES
 A PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE, LIQUIDATED DAMAGES OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
 OR ACTUAL DAMAGES, WHICHEVER IS GREATER;
   3. REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS, INCLUDING EXPERT WITNESS FEES
 AND OTHER LITIGATION EXPENSES; AND
   4. OTHER RELIEF, INCLUDING AN INJUNCTION, AS THE COURT MAY DEEM APPRO-
 PRIATE.
   § 676-D. CONSTRUCTION WITH OTHER LAWS.  1.  NOTHING  IN  THIS  ARTICLE
 SHALL  BE  CONSTRUED  TO  IMPACT THE ADMISSION OR DISCOVERY OF BIOMETRIC
 IDENTIFIERS AND BIOMETRIC INFORMATION IN ANY ACTION OF ANY KIND  IN  ANY
 COURT, OR BEFORE ANY TRIBUNAL, BOARD, AGENCY, OR PERSON.
   2.  NOTHING  IN  THIS  ARTICLE SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO CONFLICT WITH THE
 FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996.
   3. NOTHING IN THE ARTICLE SHALL BE DEEMED TO APPLY IN ANY MANNER TO  A
 FINANCIAL INSTITUTION OR AN AFFILIATE OF A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS
 SUBJECT TO TITLE V OF THE FEDERAL GRAMM-LEACH-BLILEY ACT OF 1999.
   4.  NOTHING  IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO APPLY TO A CONTRAC-
 TOR, SUBCONTRACTOR, OR AGENT OF A STATE AGENCY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT  WHEN
 WORKING FOR THAT STATE AGENCY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
 S. 1933--A                          4
 
   5.  NOTHING  IN  THIS  ARTICLE SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO CONFLICT WITH ANY
 FEDERAL LAW, RULE, REGULATION, OR LICENSING REQUIREMENT TO THE CONTRARY.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.