NEW YORK (WKBW) — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Friday he is signing into law criminal justice and police reform bills.
The bills include legislation that repeals 50-A, the law that shields police records, and legislation that bans chokeholds.
#BREAKING: I am signing into law nation-leading criminal justice & police reform bills — including legislation that ends 50-A & bans chokeholds.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 12, 2020
Thank you to @AndreaSCousins, @CarlHeastie & the Legislature for your partnership and fast action.
This is a historic moment for NY.
I just signed into law nation-leading legislation that:
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 12, 2020
-Ends 50-A
-Bans chokeholds
-Prohibits false race-based 911 calls
-Makes Attorney General the independent prosecutor in killings of unarmed civilians by police
There is more to do & NY will lead the way. pic.twitter.com/i4MUKe37IY
The governor also announced the New York State Police Reform and Reinvention collaborative.
Under the collaborative, the governor is issuing an executive order that will require local governments and police agencies in NYS to develop a plan that reinvents and modernizes police strategies and programs in their communities.
Cuomo says each local government and police agency must formulate a plan addressing: use of force by police officers, crowd management, community policing, implicit bias awareness training, de-escalation training and practices, restorative justice practices, community-based outreach, a transparent citizen complaint disposition procedure and other issues.
The governor says there must be community participation and the goal is to restore trust.
The plan must be enacted by local law by April 1, 2021 for the local governments to be eligible for state funding.
I will issue an Executive Order that mandates that local police depts develop reform plans with community input in order to be eligible for state funding.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 12, 2020
They must adopt plans by April 1 or they won't get state funding.
We must restore trust.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown announced a series of police reforms in the City of Buffalo Wednesday.
