NY, US · AI law tracker
A954 — NY, US
A954 is an AI governance legislation from NY, currently enacted. New York A954 prohibits biometric technology use in schools pending a state study or educational commissioner authorization [2]. AIGI tracks 2 primary-source updates on this bill; the most recent was published on 2021-01-05.
Status & timeline
- Regulatory stage
- enacted
- Bill status
- Signed by Governor
- Authority / governing body
- New York State Senate
- Chamber
- Assembly
- Document type
- legislation
Next deadline: Prohibition is effective until July 1, 2022 or Commissioner of Education authorization, whichever is later.
Subscriber only
Full obligation matrix
| Actor | Obligation | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| agency | Conduct a study on the use of biometric identifying technology. | — | — |
| deployer | Prohibit the use of biometric identifying technology in schools. | 2022-07-01 (or until Commissioner of Education authorizes, whichever is later) | — |
Subscriber only
Enforcement risk score
Enforcement actions have been filed against named organizations under this or analogous rules.
Subscriber only
Role-based compliance checklist
- compliance_officer Identify and cease any current use of biometric identifying technology in school settings. (Immediate)
- compliance_officer Implement policies to prohibit procurement or deployment of new biometric identifying technology until authorized or after July 1, 2022. (Immediate)
- board_director Oversee the director of the office of information technology services to ensure the study on biometric identifying technology is conducted.
Subscriber only
Vendor impact assessment
- Vendor risk class
- high
- Procurement categories
- security_tooling, other
Vendors supplying biometric identifying technology to New York schools face an immediate prohibition on sales and deployment until authorization from the Commissioner of Education or after July 1, 2022. Future sales would require demonstrating compliance with any eventual regulations.
Sample vendor questions
- Does your biometric identifying technology comply with NY A954?
- Can your technology be deployed in a manner that adheres to the current prohibitions for K-12 educational institutions in New York?
- What safeguards are in place to ensure student data privacy if the technology is eventually authorized for use?
- Do you have specific features or configurations to comply with educational sector regulations?
Intelligence briefs (2)
NY A954 Prohibits Biometric Tech in Schools Pending Study or Authorization
New York A954 prohibits biometric technology use in schools pending a state study or educational commissioner authorization [2].
This establishes a temporary moratorium and review process for biometric technology deployment within New York's educational sector.
Deadline: Prohibition is effective until July 1, 2022 or Commissioner of Education authorization, whichever is later.
Primary source →NY A954: Biometric Tech Moratorium & Study in Schools Enacted
New York enacted a temporary prohibition on biometric technology use in schools, coupled with a mandated study [1].
This establishes a specific, temporary moratorium on AI-driven biometric systems within a sensitive sector and mandates further study.
Deadline: July 1, 2022 or until the commissioner of education authorizes such purchase or utilization, whichever occurs later.
Primary source →Frequently asked questions
- What is A954?
- New York Assembly Bill A954, signed by the Governor [1], mandates the Director of the Office of Information Technology Services to conduct a comprehensive study on the use of biometric identifying technology. Concurrently, the legislation prohibits the deployment of biometric identifying technology in schools until July 1, 2022, or until the Commissioner of Education provides specific authorization, whichever occurs later [2]. This establishes a temporary restriction alongside a state-level review process. Primary source →
- Why does A954 matter?
- This establishes a temporary moratorium and review process for biometric technology deployment within New York's educational sector. Primary source →
- Who does A954 affect?
- This development primarily affects technology providers, school districts, and educational institutions operating within New York State that consider or currently utilize biometric identifying technology. Organizations involved in procuring or deploying identity management, access control, or surveillance systems for schools will need to monitor regulatory developments closely. The scope includes any technology capable of biometric identification in an educational setting. Primary source →
- What are the key dates for A954?
- Prohibition is effective until July 1, 2022 or Commissioner of Education authorization, whichever is later. Primary source →
- What is the current status of A954?
- As of the last published update, A954 is at the "enacted" stage, with bill status "Signed by Governor". Primary source →
- Where can I find the primary source for A954?
- The primary source for the most recent update is at https://legislation.nysenate.gov/bills/2021/A954. AIGI publishes the full citation chain plus every approved brief on this bill. Primary source →
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