S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
378
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. VANEL -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation to establishing a
cause of action for publicity given to private life
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The civil rights law is amended by adding a new section
50-h to read as follows:
§ 50-H. PUBLICITY GIVEN TO PRIVATE LIFE. 1. A PERSON SHALL HAVE A
CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST ANY PERSON WHO GIVES PUBLICITY TO A MATTER
CONCERNING THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SUCH PRINCIPAL PERSON WHERE THE MATTER
PUBLICIZED IS OF A KIND THAT WOULD BE HIGHLY OFFENSIVE TO A REASONABLE
PERSON AND IS NOT OF LEGITIMATE CONCERN TO THE PUBLIC.
2. IN ANY ACTION COMMENCED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS
SECTION, THE FINDER OF FACT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY AWARD INJUNCTIVE
RELIEF, PUNITIVE DAMAGES, COMPENSATORY DAMAGES AND REASONABLE COURT
COSTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES.
3. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "PUBLICITY" SHALL MEAN THAT THE
MATTER IS MADE PUBLIC, BY COMMUNICATING IT TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, OR TO
SO MANY PERSONS THAT THE MATTER MUST BE REGARDED AS SUBSTANTIALLY
CERTAIN TO BECOME ONE OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. THE TERM "PUBLICITY" SHALL
ALSO MEAN THAT THE MATTER IS SHARED TO A SPECIFIC GROUP OF PERSONS WHO
HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHOSE MATTER WAS PUBLI-
CIZED.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01923-01-5
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