ALBANY, N.Y. — Reforms are going to be in the spotlight in Albany on Monday, with New York State lawmakers coming back to session with some bills ready for debate.
We already know a couple of the things they will be looking at and potentially voting on once the session begins.
At the top of the list is repealing the so-called 50-A law, which prevents the public from being able to access officers' disciplinary records, a repeal backed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
"I’m supporting 50-A," Assemblymember Patrick Burke said. "50-A reforms are necessary, and we need transparency, and we need accountability in law enforcement."
Assemblyman Angelo Morinello said he wants to listen to debate before making a decision on the bill but says he has concerns.
"With the repeal of 50-A and amending the (Freedom of Information Law) and The Public Officers law, it now opens up the door to exposing these unfounded, unsubstantiated and unverified claims," Morinello said.
Other bills on the list would ban the use of police chokeholds, automatically make the Attorney General an independent investigator in cases of accused police misconduct, and make false 911 calls based on race a hate crime.
"I always fear creating legislation as a reactionary component rather than a deliberate one," Burke said. "It’s a fine line you have to take the moment when it’s here and make a substantive change, but at the same time you can’t just react to the demands of people without fully liberating it."
