S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5692
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 20, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GIGLIO -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to allowing a
department of motor vehicles employee to employ an attorney-at-law to
defend against certain civil actions
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
section 224-b to read as follows:
§ 224-B. ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS IN OFFICIAL EMPLOYMENT CAPACITY. 1.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF LAW, A DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR
VEHICLES EMPLOYEE MAY EMPLOY AN ATTORNEY-AT-LAW TO DEFEND ANY CIVIL
ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT AGAINST SUCH EMPLOYEE IN SUCH EMPLOYEE'S
OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS AN AGENT OF THE COMMISSIONER.
2. ALL DAMAGES RECOVERED AGAINST, OR COSTS AND EXPENSES LAWFULLY
INCURRED BY AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, INCLUDING
ATTORNEY'S FEES, IN THE DEFENSE OF A CIVIL ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT
AGAINST SUCH EMPLOYEE IN SUCH EMPLOYEE'S CAPACITY AS AN AGENT OF THE
COMMISSIONER FOR AN OFFICIAL ACT DONE, OR FOR FAILURE TO PERFORM AN
OFFICIAL ACT, SHALL BE A STATE CHARGE AND SHALL BE AUDITED AND PAID IN
THE SAME MANNER AS STATE CHARGES. WHEN THE ACT UPON WHICH THE ACTION OR
PROCEEDING IS BASED WAS DONE IN GOOD FAITH, BUT WITHOUT THE AUTHORITY OF
LAW OR AUTHORIZATION BY THE COMMISSIONER, THE STATE COMPTROLLER MAY
AUDIT AND PAY THE SAME AS STATE CHARGES, EVEN IF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEED-
ING WAS INITIATED AGAINST THE EMPLOYEE BY THE COMMISSIONER.
3. NO PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION FOR THE TERMINATION OF A DEPARTMENT
OF MOTOR VEHICLES EMPLOYEE SHALL BE UNDERTAKEN OR DIRECTED TO BE UNDER-
TAKEN AGAINST SUCH EMPLOYEE ON THE BASIS OF AN ACTION, OR FAILURE TO
ACT, OF SUCH EMPLOYEE, IF DONE IN GOOD FAITH AND WITH A REASONABLE
BELIEF THAT SUCH EMPLOYEE IS DEFENDING, PROTECTING AND UPHOLDING THE
CONSTITUTION OR LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF THIS STATE, EVEN IF IT
IS SUBSEQUENTLY DETERMINED THAT SUCH ACTION OR INACTION WAS WITHOUT
AUTHORITY OF LAW OR WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORIZATION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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