S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2677
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 22, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the appointment of a
special independent counsel
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 70-b of the executive law, as
added by chapter 95 of the laws of 2020, is amended to read as follows:
2. (A) The attorney general has investigative authority and criminal
jurisdiction under this section at the time of the death of the person
and the attorney general retains investigative authority and criminal
jurisdiction over the incident unless the attorney general determines
that such incident does not meet the requirements of this section. If
the attorney general determines the incident does not meet the require-
ments for the attorney general to have investigative authority and crim-
inal jurisdiction pursuant to this section, the attorney general shall,
as soon as practicable, provide written notice of such determination to
the district attorney for the county in which the incident occurred.
(B) IN INSTANCES INVOLVING ALLEGED CRIMINAL OFFENSE OR OFFENSES
COMMITTED BY A PERSON, WHETHER OR NOT FORMALLY ON DUTY, WHO IS A PEACE
OFFICER AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2.10 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW AND
EMPLOYED OR CONTRACTED BY A CORRECTIONS AGENCY, OR IS A PEACE OFFICER AS
DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TWENTY-FIVE OF SECTION 2.10 OF THE CRIMINAL
PROCEDURE LAW, CONCERNING ANY INCIDENT IN WHICH THE DEATH OF A PERSON,
WHETHER IN CUSTODY OR NOT, IS CAUSED BY AN ACT OR OMISSION OF SUCH PEACE
OFFICER, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER THE
INVESTIGATORY AUTHORITY AND CRIMINAL JURISDICTION UNDER THIS SECTION TO
AN INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS INDEPENDENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL. SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS SHALL BE A LAWYER WITH A REPUTA-
TION FOR INTEGRITY AND IMPARTIAL DECISION MAKING, AND WITH APPROPRIATE
EXPERIENCE TO ENSURE BOTH THAT THE INVESTIGATION WILL BE CONDUCTED ABLY,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03061-01-5
A. 2677 2
EXPEDITIOUSLY AND THOROUGHLY. FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH TRANSFER OF
INVESTIGATORY AUTHORITY AND CRIMINAL JURISDICTION, SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR
INDIVIDUALS SHALL HAVE THE SAME POWERS AND AUTHORITY AS THE DEPUTY
ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION, AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS
SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.