Law New is NYLS’s weekly news and information resource about changes to the laws of the State of New York, as well as changes to City law and regulations. It includes updates on the work of the City’s legislative bodies, including the Council and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. In addition, Law New covers the work of city agencies and the executive branch, as well as the federal courts, Congress and the President.

New legislation can be a powerful tool to promote change and address society’s most pressing needs. The process for creating new laws can take many forms, from ideas that emerge during an elected official’s election campaign to petitions by citizens or interest groups. Once a bill is proposed, it is subject to numerous stages of review and debate, often resulting in amendments that can significantly alter the original proposal before it becomes a law. The creation of new laws reflects democratic principles, as elected officials make decisions on the issues most important to their constituents and demonstrate accountability for the outcomes of those policies.

The drafting of a bill is a complicated and time-consuming process, with many different opportunities for the final form of the legislation to change. A legislative staffer may draft a bill from scratch, an elected official or an interest group may submit their own version of a bill, and lawyers working in state agencies and the executive branch may propose bills as part of their work. The final form of a bill can also be subject to the approval of the Governor, who has 10 days (not counting Sundays) to sign or veto bills passed by both houses of the Legislature. If the Governor does not sign a bill, it becomes law automatically; if she vetoes a bill, it can be overridden by two-thirds of the members of each house of the Legislature.

This bill would amend City laws regarding data breaches to require that City agencies that experience a data breach involving persons’ private identifying information notify the Chief Privacy Officer and the Office of Cyber Command, in addition to notifying affected persons. The bill also expands the definition of “private identifying information” to include social security numbers and other sensitive personal information.

The Center makes the process of NYC and State government more transparent, understandable, and effective through a wide variety of programs and publications. These include news and explainer articles, a range of public events featuring expert guests, in-depth podcast conversations, and other resources. The Center is made possible by affiliates, who gain practical experience in government and build a network for future civic leadership. All students are welcome to join the Center as affiliates. Learn more and apply.

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