New York S 9236: Relates to falsely reporting an incident through the use of artificial intelligence

Bill Text

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S09236 Summary:

BILL NOS09236 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A09185

&nbsp

SPONSORSCARCELLA-SPANTON

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Amd §240.50, Pen L

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Includes communications generated using artificial intelligence in the definition of falsely reporting an incident in the third degree.

Go to top S09236 Actions:

BILL NOS09236 

&nbsp

02/18/2026REFERRED TO CODES

Go to topS09236 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09236 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS09236 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9236

 IN SENATE

 February 18, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
 and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes

 AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to falsely reporting an inci-
 dent in the third degree

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Section 240.50 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 276
 2 of the laws of 1973, the opening paragraph and subdivision 4 as amended
 3 by section 1 of part G of chapter 501 of the laws of 2012, subdivisions
 4 1 and 2 as amended by chapter 146 of the laws of 1979, subdivision 3 as
 5 amended by chapter 302 of the laws of 2001, and the closing paragraph as
 6 amended by chapter 301 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as
 7 follows:
 8 § 240.50 Falsely reporting an incident in the third degree.
 9 A person is guilty of falsely reporting an incident in the third
 10 degree when, knowing the information reported, conveyed or circulated to
 11 be false or baseless, [he or she] such person:
 12 1. Initiates or circulates a false report or warning, including using
 13 artificial intelligence or generative artificial intelligence as defined
 14 by section seventeen hundred of the general business law, of an alleged
 15 occurrence or impending occurrence of a crime, catastrophe or emergency
 16 under circumstances in which it is not unlikely that public alarm or
 17 inconvenience will result; or
 18 2. Reports, by word or action including using artificial intelligence
 19 or generative artificial intelligence as defined by section seventeen
 20 hundred of the general business law, to an official or quasi-official
 21 agency or organization having the function of dealing with emergencies
 22 involving danger to life or property, an alleged occurrence or impending
 23 occurrence of a catastrophe or emergency which did not in fact occur or
 24 does not in fact exist; or
 25 3. Gratuitously reports to a law enforcement officer or agency,
 26 including using artificial intelligence or generative artificial intel-
 27 ligence as defined by section seventeen hundred of the general business
 28 law, (a) the alleged occurrence of an offense or incident which did not

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD13942-01-5

 S. 9236 2

 1 in fact occur; or (b) an allegedly impending occurrence of an offense or
 2 incident which in fact is not about to occur; or (c) false information
 3 relating to an actual offense or incident or to the alleged implication
 4 of some person therein; or
 5 4. Reports, by word or action including using artificial intelligence
 6 or generative artificial intelligence as defined by section seventeen
 7 hundred of the general business law, an alleged occurrence or condition
 8 of child abuse or maltreatment or abuse or neglect of a vulnerable
 9 person which did not in fact occur or exist to:
 10 (a) the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment, as
 11 defined in title six of article six of the social services law or the
 12 vulnerable persons' central register as defined in article eleven of
 13 such law, or
 14 (b) any person required to report cases of suspected child abuse or
 15 maltreatment pursuant to subdivision one of section four hundred thir-
 16 teen of the social services law or to report cases of suspected abuse or
 17 neglect of a vulnerable person pursuant to section four hundred ninety-
 18 one of such law, knowing that the person is required to report such
 19 cases, and with the intent that such an alleged occurrence be reported
 2