S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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10331--A
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 20, 2026
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Introduced by M. of A. ANDERSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the executive law and the New York city charter, in
relation to enacting the "Census Enumerator Navigation Safety for
Unimpeded Surveying Act"
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Census
Enumerator Navigation Safety for Unimpeded Surveying Act".
§ 2. Legislative intent. Federal law establishes a right of access for
census enumerators but provides limited mechanisms for routine enforce-
ment, guidance, and accountability at the state and local level. This
act supplements federal law by establishing civil enforcement tools,
coordination, and transparency to ensure census access is effectively
implemented in New York State. To facilitate lawful access for census
enumerators, protect them from obstruction or harassment, and improve
census accuracy through state-level coordination and compliance meas-
ures.
§ 3. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 171-b to
read as follows:
§ 171-B. CENSUS ENUMERATOR ACCESS. 1. DURING AN OFFICIAL ENUMERATION
PERIOD ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, ENUMERATORS WHO
PRESENT VALID FEDERAL-ISSUED OR STATE-ISSUED CREDENTIALS SHALL BE
AFFORDED REASONABLE ACCESS TO COMMON AREAS OF MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTIAL
BUILDINGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING AUTHORIZED CENSUS ACTIVITIES.
SUCH ACCESS SHALL BE GRANTED DURING THE DAYS AND HOURS ENUMERATORS ARE
AUTHORIZED TO MAKE IN-PERSON INQUIRIES FOR THE PURPOSES OF COLLECTING
CENSUS INFORMATION.
2. (A) THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
NEW YORK REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU AFTER
APPOINTMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION TWENTY-V OF THE NEW YORK CITY CHARTER,
SHALL PREPARE AND ISSUE GUIDANCE TO BUILDING OWNERS, MANAGING AGENTS,
AND BUILDING STAFF REGARDING RECOGNITION OF VALID ENUMERATOR CREDEN-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14733-03-6
A. 10331--A 2
TIALS. SUCH GUIDANCE SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE WEBSITE OF
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, ON THE WEBSITE OF THE NEW YORK REGIONAL OFFICE OF
THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, AND IN WRITTEN FORM UPON REQUEST.
(B) TO THE EXTENT NOT IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW, THE DEPARTMENT OF
STATE SHALL DEVELOP A VOLUNTARY STATE-ISSUED VERIFICATION RESOURCE OR
TRAINING MATERIALS TO ASSIST BUILDING STAFF IN IDENTIFYING AUTHORIZED
ENUMERATORS AND REDUCING CONFUSION DURING ENUMERATION PERIODS.
3. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
BUILDING OWNERS OR MANAGING AGENTS OF PROPERTIES WHOSE STAFF OR RESI-
DENTS INTENTIONALLY OBSTRUCT, HARASS, OR INTERFERE WITH AN ENUMERATOR
PERFORMING THE ENUMERATOR'S OFFICIAL DUTIES PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY OF UP TO FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER
VIOLATION. SUCH PENALTY SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY APPLICABLE FEDERAL
PENALTIES. MONEYS COLLECTED FROM SUCH PENALTIES SHALL BE DEPOSITED IN
THE GENERAL FUND TO THE CREDIT OF THE NEW YORK REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE
UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU TO BE USED FOR EDUCATION, COMPLIANCE AND
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE CENSUS.
4. THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR
THE FILING OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION. A LISTING
OF ALL SUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE
WEBSITE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
5. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGU-
LATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.
6. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO CONFLICT WITH, LIMIT
OR PREEMPT FEDERAL CENSUS LAW OR TO AUTHORIZE ENTRY INTO INDIVIDUAL
DWELLING UNITS WITHOUT CONSENT.
§ 4. Section 20-t of the New York city charter, as added by local law
number 9 of the city of New York for the year 2026, is renumbered
section 20-v.
§ 5. Subdivision d of section 20-v of the New York city charter, as
renumbered by section four of this act, is amended by adding a new para-
graph 6 to read as follows:
6. CONSULT WITH THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PREPARE AND
ISSUE GUIDANCE TO BUILDING OWNERS, MANAGING AGENTS, AND BUILDING STAFF
REGARDING RECOGNITION OF VALID ENUMERATOR CREDENTIALS AS PROVIDED IN
SECTION ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-ONE-B OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW AND MAKE SUCH
GUIDANCE AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE.
§ 6. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision,
section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or
invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation
to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part thereof
directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have
been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the legislature
that this act would have been enacted even if such invalid provisions
had not been included herein.
§ 7. This act shall take effect immediately.