Governor Kathy Hochul signed a new law on Wednesday requiring public employees to be notified if their disciplinary records are requested under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. James Skoufis, aims to give employees the opportunity to prepare for potential scrutiny.
However, the move faced last-minute opposition from good government groups, including Reinvent Albany and the New York Civil Liberties Union. Critics argue the bill could overburden the already slow FOIL system and discourage transparency, particularly following the 2020 repeal of 50-a, which unsealed disciplinary records for public employees, notably law enforcement.
While Skoufis defended the law as a matter of due process for employees, opponents warn it could lead to longer processing times and discourage journalists and advocates from pursuing FOIL requests.
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