Requires state agencies to make available all public documents in a digital format on their website in a manner that allows such documents to be printed; provides that no document required by law to remain confidential shall be deemed a public document.
Summary
A02573 would require every New York state agency to post all “public documents” on its website in a digital format that can be printed. The bill is framed as a transparency and access measure, ensuring that documents already considered public under the state printing and public documents law are available online rather than only through physical or in-person access.
The bill also clarifies that documents required by law to remain confidential cannot be treated as public documents for purposes of this posting requirement. It would take effect 90 days after becoming law, and it amends section 12 of the New York state printing and public documents law by adding a new subdivision requiring digital publication of public records.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would impose a new statewide website-posting obligation on state agencies and expand digital access to public documents without changing the underlying definition of what is public. It would affect agency records-management and web-posting practices, likely increasing administrative duties to scan, upload, and maintain printable versions of documents, while preserving existing confidentiality protections for records that must remain sealed or exempt from disclosure.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests strong support and little opposition. The Assembly Governmental Operations Committee advanced the bill unanimously, 14-0, and the Assembly passed it 146-0, indicating broad bipartisan agreement on improving public access to government documents and modernizing publication practices.
Contention
No major points of contention appear in the provided materials. The only explicit limitation in the bill is the confidentiality carveout, which protects documents required by law to remain confidential from being swept into the public-document posting mandate. Otherwise, the measure appears to have been viewed as a straightforward transparency and accessibility bill with consensus support.
Same As
Requires state agencies to make available all public documents in a digital format on their website in a manner that allows such documents to be printed; provides that no document required by law to remain confidential shall be deemed a public document.
Requires state agencies to make available all public documents in a digital format on their website in a manner that allows such documents to be printed; provides that no document required by law to remain confidential shall be deemed a public document.