Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Assemblywoman Diana C. Richardson.

Albany, NY, June 12, 2020 – Legislation introduced by Assemblywoman Diana C. Richardson (D-Brooklyn) to create a civil penalty for the biased misuse of emergency services when there is no reason to believe a crime or offense is occurring, was signed into law today by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“Today, I am proud that Governor Cuomo has immediately signed into law my bill that makes it a crime to call 911 based on a person’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation,” said Assemblymember Diana Richardson. “No longer will people be able to use the 911 system to endanger others without consequence. This legislation is deeply meaningful to me, and I am honored to have played a role in effecting this long-needed change.”

This vital legislation (A.1531-B) had laid dormant in Albany for years because the eight members of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) gave control of the New York State Senate to the Republican party. Since the IDC was defeated and a majority of true blue Democrats were elected in 2018, this important bill has finally become law.

The new law makes it a civil rights violation to call 911 to report a non-emergency incident involving a member of a protected class without reason to suspect a crime or an imminent threat. These calls, including the recent example of Amy Cooper calling 911 on a black birdwatcher who asked her to follow Central Park’s dog leashing rules, are motivated by bias rather than by any meaningful threat, and are now illegal.

The law was part of a bundle of police reform bills signed into law this week, including a repeal of law 50-A, a statewide ban on police chokeholds, and the appointment of a special prosecutor to cases of police killing unarmed civilians.