New York Assembly Bill A05729

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/25
• Refer: 2/20/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires colleges to report crimes occurring on their campuses or other property to local police; requires such information also be reported monthly to the division of criminal justice services for compilation in an annual report thereon, which report is to include findings and recommendations; conditions receipt of state aid to colleges upon submission of such reports.

Summary

A05729 would require every college chartered by the Regents or incorporated by special act of the Legislature to promptly report all criminal activity occurring on campus or on other college property used for educational purposes to the local police agency with jurisdiction. In addition, colleges would have to submit the same information monthly to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). The bill also directs DCJS to compile the data and publish an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on college campus crime, including findings and recommendations. The measure creates a financial enforcement mechanism: a college that fails to comply would be ineligible to receive state aid or assistance until the failure is corrected. The bill would take effect 120 days after becoming law, with any necessary implementing regulations authorized immediately.

Impact

The bill would add a new Education Law section 6450 and amend Executive Law section 837-a to create a statewide reporting and publication system for campus crime data. It would impose new reporting duties on colleges, require local law enforcement notification, and expand DCJS responsibilities to collect, compile, and report campus crime information annually. Colleges that do not comply could lose eligibility for state aid, making the reporting requirement enforceable through funding consequences.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and transparency bill, with no recorded committee debate or votes showing opposition or support. The overall tone of the proposal is administrative and oversight-oriented, emphasizing regular reporting, state-level compilation of data, and recommendations for policymakers. Because no transcripts or vote history are available, there is no documented partisan or stakeholder sentiment beyond the bill’s apparent focus on crime reporting and accountability.

Contention

The main point of contention likely concerns the burden and consequences of mandatory reporting on colleges, especially the threat of losing state aid for noncompliance. Colleges may view the bill as imposing additional administrative obligations and potential liability or reputational concerns, while supporters would likely argue that prompt reporting to police and DCJS improves campus safety, transparency, and state oversight. Another possible issue is whether all criminal activity should be reported immediately to local police, which could raise questions about institutional autonomy and how incidents are categorized and disclosed.