S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6874
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 8, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CRUZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law and the civil rights law, in relation to
prohibiting speech-based defenses to actions brought against an indi-
vidual for the unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate
image
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 245.15 of the penal law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. IT SHALL NOT BE A DEFENSE TO ANY CRIMINAL ACTION BROUGHT AGAINST AN
INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION THAT SUCH DISSEMINATION OR PUBLICA-
TION OF AN INTIMATE IMAGE IS PROTECTED BY A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.
§ 2. Section 52-b of the civil rights law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
6-A. IT SHALL NOT BE A DEFENSE TO ANY CIVIL ACTION BROUGHT AGAINST AN
INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION THAT SUCH DISSEMINATION OR PUBLICA-
TION OF AN INTIMATE IMAGE IS PROTECTED BY A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08921-01-3