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S 9530

Enacts the crash victims bill of rights

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jeremy Cooney and 1 co-sponsor

Provides free, rapid access to accident reports for victims and families within 24 hours.

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Bill Summary · S 9530

Summary of Bill S. 9530 (2025-2026) – New York: Crash Victims Bill of Rights

Purpose and overarching goal

  • Enacts a “crash victims bill of rights” to enhance information access, communications, and support for individuals affected by automobile crashes.
  • Aims to ensure near-immediate, free disclosure of accident reports to victims and families; formally recognizes victim impact during traffic-infraction adjudications; and creates a framework for workplace leave to participate in victim impact statements.
  • Also initiates a state-commissioned study to assess unmet resource needs of crash victims and their families, with a detailed data-gathering plan from insurers and other entities.

Key provisions and changes

1) Free, rapid access to accident reports (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 607)

  • Require the department to provide, at no charge, accident reports to:
    • (a) all persons injured in the accident
    • (b) the next of kin of all persons killed or seriously injured
    • (c) parents/guardians of all minors under 18 who were injured
  • Reports must be provided electronically and within 24 hours of processing by the department.
  • The Department's commissioner must promulgate rules to implement this provision.

2) Prioritization of processing for certain reports (VTL § 606, amended)

  • When processing accident reports and distributing reports under § 607, the department must give priority to cases involving:
    • Minors under 18
    • Serious physical injury
    • Death

3) Victim impact statements at traffic hearings (VTL § 227, amended)

  • Hearing procedures for traffic infractions must allow for the presentation of:
    • Victim impact statements by individuals injured in the traffic infraction
    • In fatal cases, statements from the deceased’s next of kin
  • The burden of proof remains on the People in traffic infraction hearings; rules may be established to govern presentation of these statements.

4) Employer leave for providing victim impact statements (Labor Law § 202-m, new)

  • Establishes a leave-of-absence right for eligible employees to provide a victim impact statement at a traffic infraction adjudication hearing.
  • Eligibility: Employees who meet criteria to provide an impact statement per VTL § 227 rules (to be defined by implementing regulations).
  • Leave duration: Up to four work hours, unless otherwise agreed with the employer.
  • Prohibition on retaliation for taking such leave; employers may still grant additional leave beyond four hours without penalty.
  • Provisions do not affect other employee rights or benefits.

5) State-supported study on unmet resource needs (New § 202-m, Labor Law)

  • The Superintendent of Financial Services must study unmet resource needs of:
    • Persons injured in automobile crashes
    • Next of kin of persons killed in automobile crashes
  • Data sources may include insurers’ no-fault and liability claims, death benefits, and related awards; the study can request information from relevant entities.
  • Report due: December 31, 2027, to the Governor, Senate, and Assembly leaders.
  • The study should extrapolate trends and include recommendations to improve access to resources for crash victims and families.

Who is affected

  • Individuals injured in automobile crashes and the next of kin of those killed or seriously injured.
  • Parents/guardians of minor victims.
  • Employers with at least 20 employees (as defined in the bill) in relation to the new victim-impact statement leave.
  • Insurance carriers and other entities involved in auto no-fault and liability claims (due to the study and data-sharing provisions).
  • State agencies responsible for vehicle/traffic reports and processing (priority processing and the new reporting requirements).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: 180 days after enactment.
  • Report delivery for the study: By December 31, 2027.
  • Reports under § 607 to be provided within 24 hours of processing; electronic delivery mandated.
  • Study requires cooperation from insurers and other data holders as needed.

Potential impact highlights

  • Improves timely access to crash reports for victims and families, aiding medical, legal, and financial planning.
  • Formalizes victim participation in traffic-infraction hearings through victim impact statements.
  • Creates a mechanism for workplace accommodation to support victims’ needs during adjudication processes.
  • Establishes a data-informed approach to identifying gaps in resources and support for crash victims, guiding future policy or program development.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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