Bill Text: NY A05857 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires each retail sale of nitric acid to be recorded by the seller thereof; such record shall include the photographic identification number, telephone number and address of the purchaser; provides for the secure storage of nitric acid by retailers, schools and institutions of higher education; makes the violation of such provisions a class A misdemeanor; establishes the class D felony of disseminating material on the manufacture of an explosive for using a computer network to disseminate information on how to make an explosive out of nitric acid.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-05 - referred to economic development [A05857 Detail]
Download: New_York-2021-A05857-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5857 2021-2022 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY March 1, 2021 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. RAMOS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Economic Development AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to providing for the regulation of the sale, use and storage of nitric acid; and to amend the penal law, in relation to disseminating material on the manufac- ture of an explosive The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds that while 2 there are important uses for substances like nitric acid, it is impor- 3 tant that we safeguard these substances in order to prevent them from 4 being used to harm both people and property. Nitric acid can be used to 5 cause harmful explosions and its use carries the ability, if fallen in 6 the wrong hands, of resulting in massive destruction. 7 Currently, the sale of nitric acid is not regulated on an appropriate 8 level. Retailers are not required to check the identification of the 9 buyers when selling them nitric acid. They are also not required to 10 maintain records of the sale. This act would require that retailers 11 check the identification of buyers purchasing nitric acid and record 12 their name and address. 13 In addition, there are no standard rules or requirements maintaining 14 the security of nitric acid in academia. While this act does not hinder 15 the important academic work that surrounds the use of nitric acid in 16 colleges, universities and even high schools, it would provide a set 17 standard ensuring we do our part in not allowing our academic insti- 18 tutions to become tools for potential terrorists. 19 Finally, while the advent of the internet has provided us countless 20 benefits, it has also increased the threat we face from people looking 21 to harm Americans, using information widely available on the web. This 22 act bans websites that provide guides on taking nitric acid and turning 23 it into explosives. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD07926-01-1A. 5857 2 1 § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 719 to read 2 as follows: 3 § 719. Nitric acid security. 1. (a) For the purposes of this section, 4 "nitric acid" shall include nitric acid or any preparation containing 5 free or chemically unneutralized nitric acid (HN03) in a concentration 6 of five per centum or more. 7 (b) The provisions of this section shall apply to the retail sale, 8 storage and use of nitric acid, notwithstanding any provision of section 9 one hundred forty-six-f or article fourteen-A of the agriculture and 10 markets law to the contrary. 11 2. (a) Every person who sells any quantity of nitric acid at retail 12 shall record the date of sale and quantity of nitric acid sold to a 13 purchaser, along with the valid state or federal driver license number, 14 or other picture identification card number approved for purchaser iden- 15 tification by the director of the state office of homeland security, as 16 well as the name, current physical address and telephone number of such 17 purchaser of nitric acid. 18 (b) Such information and any additional information, as shall be 19 determined by the director of the state office of homeland security, 20 shall be maintained by the retail seller of nitric acid at the place of 21 sale of the nitric acid for a period of not less than three years in a 22 form or using a format developed by the director. 23 (c) Every person who sells nitric acid at retail shall, in compliance 24 with any federal and state requirements regarding the dissemination of 25 such information, provide the director, or any officer or employee of 26 the state office of homeland security access to such records. 27 3. Nitric acid, while upon the premises of a person engaged in the 28 retail sale thereof, shall be secured to provide reasonable protection 29 against vandalism, theft or other unauthorized access. Reasonable 30 protection may include, but not be limited to, ensuring that storage 31 facilities are locked when unattended, and inspected daily for signs of 32 attempted entry, vandalism and structural integrity. The director of the 33 state office of homeland security may require such security measures for 34 the storage of nitric acid as he or she shall deem necessary. 35 4. (a) Every elementary and secondary school, and every institution of 36 higher education, as defined in subdivision eight of section two of the 37 education law, which has nitric acid upon its premises or in its 38 possession, shall secure such acid when it is not in use for academic 39 purposes to prevent the vandalism, theft or other unauthorized use ther- 40 eof. In addition, all academic uses of nitric acid shall be monitored to 41 prevent theft and unauthorized uses thereof. The securing of nitric 42 acid, when not in use, shall include, but not be limited to, the place- 43 ment of all nitric acid in a storage container which is locked and 44 accessible by means of a key or special combination maintained solely by 45 the employee responsible for such storage container. 46 (b) In the event any quantity of nitric acid is to be taken from the 47 premises of any such school or institution, the employee responsible for 48 the storage of such acid shall record the name of the person taking the 49 acid. Such records and any additional information, as shall be deter- 50 mined by the director of the state office of homeland security, shall be 51 maintained for a period of not less than three years in a form or using 52 a format developed by the director. Furthermore, these records shall be 53 made available to the director, and any officer or employee of the state 54 office of homeland security.A. 5857 3 1 5. The director of the state office of homeland security may, in his 2 or her discretion, promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to 3 implement the provisions of this section. 4 6. Any violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute a 5 class A misdemeanor. 6 § 3. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 270.40 to read 7 as follows: 8 § 270.40 Disseminating material on the manufacture of an explosive. 9 A person is guilty of disseminating material on the manufacture of an 10 explosive when knowing the character and content of the communication 11 which, in whole or part, describes or explains the process or means of 12 constructing or manufacturing an explosive using nitric acid, he or she 13 intentionally uses any computer communication system allowing input, 14 output, examination or transfer of computer data or computer programs 15 from one computer to another. 16 Disseminating material on the manufacture of an explosive is a class D 17 felony. 18 § 4. This act shall take effect on the first of September next 19 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective imme- 20 diately, the director of the state office of homeland security is 21 authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to imple- 22 ment the provisions of section two of this act on its effective date on 23 or before such date.
