S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8173
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                May 5, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ROSENTHAL  --  read once and referred to the
   Committee on Local Governments
 
 AN ACT to amend the general municipal  law,  in  relation  to  retaining
   certain security recordings for a minimum period of fifteen months
 
   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 cited as the  "safekeeping  and
 access to video evidence (SAVE) act".
   §  2.  The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 54
 to read as follows:
   § 54. RETENTION OF PUBLIC SECURITY RECORDINGS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. 1.
 ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT OPERATES PUBLIC  SECURITY  CAMERAS  IN  PUBLIC
 SPACES  THAT  ARE  ACCESSIBLE  TO  THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING BUT NOT
 LIMITED TO STREETS, SUBWAYS, TRANSPORTATION TERMINALS, PARKS,  STADIUMS,
 GOVERNMENT  BUILDINGS,  CONSTRUCTION SITES, HOSPITALS, AND OTHER GOVERN-
 MENT PROPERTY, SHALL RETAIN VIDEO RECORDINGS MADE BY  SUCH  CAMERAS  AND
 SHALL  NOT  ERASE  OR  OVERWRITE SUCH RECORDINGS FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF
 FIFTEEN MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF RECORDING.
   2. ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT, IN CONNECTION WITH THE  OPERATION  OF  A
 POLICE  DEPARTMENT,  FIRE  DEPARTMENT,  AMBULANCE OR HEALTHCARE SERVICE,
 OPERATES CAMERAS THAT RECORD INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PUBLIC  OFFICIALS  AND
 MEMBERS  OF THE PUBLIC, SHALL RETAIN SUCH VIDEO RECORDINGS AND SHALL NOT
 ERASE OR OVERWRITE SUCH RECORDINGS  FOR  A  MINIMUM  PERIOD  OF  FIFTEEN
 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF RECORDING.
   3.  IF  A  LOCAL  GOVERNMENT  HAS NOTICE OF A LEGAL CLAIM AGAINST SUCH
 LOCAL  GOVERNMENT,  THE  LOCAL  GOVERNMENT  SHALL  RETAIN   SUCH   VIDEO
 RECORDINGS AND SHALL NOT ERASE OR OVERWRITE SUCH RECORDINGS UNTIL EITHER
 THE  END OF THE LITIGATION OR FIFTEEN MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF RECORDING,
 WHICHEVER COMES LATER.
   4. THE VIDEO RECORDINGS SHALL  BE  STORED  IN  A  SECURE  MANNER  THAT
 ENSURES  THEIR  INTEGRITY  AND  PREVENTS UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, TAMPERING,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11874-01-5
              

 A. 8173                             2
 
 OVERWRITING, OR DELETION BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE TIME  PERIODS  SET
 FORTH IN THIS SECTION.
   5.  THE  VIDEO  RECORDINGS  SHALL  BE STORED IN A SHARED DRIVE THAT IS
 ACCESSIBLE TO OFFICIALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESPONDING  TO  INFORMA-
 TION MADE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
   6.  NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO: (A) PREVENT A MUNI-
 CIPALITY FROM RETAINING  VIDEO  RECORDINGS  FOR  A  PERIOD  LONGER  THAN
 FIFTEEN MONTHS OR FOR ANY PURPOSE; (B) REQUIRE A MUNICIPALITY TO OPERATE
 SECURITY CAMERAS OR MAKE VIDEO RECORDINGS IN CONNECTION WITH ANY GOVERN-
 MENT  OPERATION;  OR (C) REQUIRE, ALLOW, OR PREVENT PUBLIC ACCESS TO ANY
 RECORDING IN CONTRADICTION OF ANY CURRENT LAW,  RULE  OR  REGULATION  OR
 COURT ORDER.
   7.  THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY RECORDING THAT IS ORDERED BY A
 COURT TO BE DELETED, DESTROYED, OR REDACTED.
   8. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "LOCAL GOVERNMENT" MEANS ANY  COUNTY,
 CITY,  TOWN,  VILLAGE, SCHOOL DISTRICT, BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
 SERVICES, LOCAL PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION  OR  OTHER  MUNICIPAL  CORPO-
 RATION  OR  POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, OR OF SUCH LOCAL GOVERN-
 MENT, INCLUDING ANY PUBLIC AUTHORITY OPERATED IN WHOLE OR IN PART  BY  A
 LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
   §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.