STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2206
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BARRETT, SEAWRIGHT, DINOWITZ, DE LA ROSA, WEPRIN,
REYES, LAVINE, QUART, BRONSON, GOTTFRIED, GLICK, RODRIGUEZ, SIMON,
OTIS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Oper-
ations
AN ACT to establish a task force to explore the effects of cyber-bully-
ing in New York state and potential measures to address such effects;
and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration
thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. A temporary task force is hereby established to conduct and
2 submit a comprehensive study on the effects of, and potential methods to
3 address, cyber-bullying. The scope of such study shall include:
4 a. identifying the most common victims of cyber-bullying by age, race,
5 ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual
6 orientation or any other identifying characteristic the members of the
7 task force deem relevant;
8 b. determining the most common mediums used in cases of cyber-bully-
9 ing, including but not limited to, text messages, websites, and social
10 media;
11 c. identifying the social and psychological effects of cyber-bullying
12 on individuals;
13 d. recommendations, based upon the findings of the task force, on the
14 prevention of cyber-bullying;
15 e. identifying ways in which the state can better assist individuals
16 who have been victims of cyber-bullying; and
17 f. identifying measures other states have taken to address cyber-bul-
18 lying.
19 § 2. a. The task force shall consist of nine members, which to the
20 extent practicable shall be experts in the fields of child psychology,
21 technology, law enforcement, mental health, or social services, or an
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01232-01-1
A. 2206 2
1 appropriate field related to the mission of the task force, to be
2 appointed as follows:
3 (1) five members appointed by the governor;
4 (2) two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
5 (3) two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
6 b. The governor shall designate one of the appointees as the chair of
7 the task force.
8 c. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for
9 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
10 incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.
11 d. All appointments shall be made no later than ninety days after the
12 effective date of this act. All vacancies shall be filled by the
13 appointing authority in a timely manner.
14 § 3. The task force shall report its findings, conclusions, and recom-
15 mendations to the governor, temporary president of the senate, and
16 speaker of the assembly on or before July 1, 2023. Such report shall
17 also be published on the website of the New York state office of mental
18 health.
19 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed
20 repealed December 31, 2023.
