Int. No. 919
By Council Members Won, Maloney, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Hanif, Thomas-Henry and Morano
A Local Law to amend the New York city charter and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing an office of artificial intelligence oversight
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 64 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 2204 to read as follows:
§ 2204. Office of artificial intelligence oversight. a. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Artificial intelligence. The term “artificial intelligence” means a machine-based system that operates with varying levels of autonomy, and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives, how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.
Consumer. The term “consumer” means a purchaser or lessee, or a prospective purchaser or lessee, of goods, services, or credit primarily for personal, household, or family purposes.
Consumer law. The term “consumer law” means any law, rule, or regulation that the commissioner may enforce for the protection of consumers.
Director. The term “director” means the director of artificial intelligence oversight.
Office. The term “office” means the office of artificial intelligence oversight.
b. Office established. The commissioner shall establish an office of artificial intelligence oversight. Such office shall be headed by a director of artificial intelligence oversight who shall be appointed by the commissioner. In the event the director is removed or resigns, the commissioner shall appoint a new director within 90 days of such removal or resignation.
c. Powers and duties. The director shall have the power and duty to:
1. Establish a protocol for receiving, reviewing, and responding to complaints from members of the public alleging the use of artificial intelligence in violation of the consumer laws;
2. Investigate allegations of the use of artificial intelligence in violation of the consumer laws, and recommend to the commissioner and the corporation counsel appropriate enforcement actions under the consumer laws in response to such allegations;
3. Plan and implement an ongoing outreach and education campaign to raise public awareness regarding the use of artificial intelligence to harm the rights, safety, or interests of consumers;
4. Make recommendations to the commissioner for the promulgation of rules consistent with the purpose of this section to further the rights and protection of consumers; and
5. Perform other relevant duties that the mayor or commissioner may assign.
d. Agency cooperation. All agencies shall cooperate with the office to facilitate the timely and efficient performance of such office’s duties.
§ 2. Title 20 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new chapter 17 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 17
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT
§ 20-1701 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
Algorithmic tool. The term “algorithmic tool” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision a of section 3-119.5.
Artificial intelligence. The term “artificial intelligence” means a machine-based system that operates with varying levels of autonomy, and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives, how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.
Consumer. The term “consumer” means a purchaser or lessee, or a prospective purchaser or lessee, of goods, services, or credit primarily for personal, household, or family purposes.
Consumer law. The term “consumer law” means any law, rule, or regulation that the commissioner may enforce for the protection of consumers.
Deceptive trade practice. The term “deceptive trade practice” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision a of section 20-701.
Director. The term “director” means the director of artificial intelligence oversight.
Office. The term “office” means the office of artificial intelligence oversight.
Unconscionable trade practice. The term “unconscionable trade practice” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision b of section 20-701.
§ 20-1702 Consumer complaints. a. Complaint protocol. The director shall establish a protocol for receiving, reviewing, responding to, and, in consultation with the commissioner, establishing jurisdiction over complaints alleging the use of artificial intelligence in violation of the consumer laws.
b. Complaint review. 1. Upon receiving a complaint pursuant to this section, the director shall, in consultation with the commissioner as needed, determine whether the director may exercise jurisdiction over the complaint.
2. If the director exercises jurisdiction over such complaint, the director shall investigate the complaint; recommend to the commissioner and the corporation counsel any appropriate enforcement action under the consumer laws against the person subject to the complaint; and notify the complainant of the status of such investigation or enforcement action.
3. If the director declines to exercise jurisdiction over such complaint, the director shall notify the complainant of such decision and may refer the complaint to another agency with competent jurisdiction.
c. Complaint against an agency. Notwithstanding the procedures set forth in subdivision b of this section, if a complaint received pursuant to this section relates to the use of an algorithmic tool by an agency, the director shall refer the complaint to the office of algorithmic accountability.
d. Complaint referral. If the director refers a complaint to another agency pursuant to subdivision b or c of this section, the director shall notify the complainant of such referral, and provide the complainant with the contact information for such other agency.
e. Complaint portal. The director, in collaboration with the commissioner of information technology and telecommunications, shall establish and maintain an online platform to enable consumers to submit complaints alleging the use of artificial intelligence in violation of the consumer laws. Such portal may be integrated into any other portal maintained by the commissioner to receive complaints by the public.
f. 311 reporting protocols. The commissioner of information technology and telecommunications, in collaboration with the director, shall develop and implement a protocol for referring to the director any complaint received by the 311 customer service center that alleges the use of artificial intelligence in violation of the consumer laws.
§ 20-1703 Public outreach and education. a. Outreach and education program. The director shall develop and implement an ongoing outreach and education program to raise public awareness regarding the use of artificial intelligence that may harm the rights, safety, or interests of consumers. Such program shall include:
1. An overview of common and emerging deceptive trade practices and unconscionable trade practices that use artificial intelligence;
2. Strategies for detecting and identifying such practices;
3. Procedures for reporting such practices to the office, other agencies, and federal and state governmental authorities; and
4. Information on legal protections and legal recourse available to persons who are adversely affected by such practices.
b. Consumer advisories. The director shall issue consumer advisories on uses of artificial intelligence to harm the rights, safety, or interests of consumers, as the director deems appropriate. The director shall publish such advisories on the department’s website. The director shall review the advisories published on the department’s website annually for continuing relevance and may archive or revise any such advisories that contain outdated information or guidance, in accordance with applicable retention laws and policies.
c. Language access. The director shall make all materials produced pursuant to the requirements of this section available in English and the designated citywide languages, as defined in subdivision a of section 23-1101.
§ 20-1704 Proposed rules. a. No later than 6 months after the effective date of the local law that added this section, and at least annually thereafter, the director shall review existing rules implementing the consumer laws, and determine whether any amendments to such rules, or any new rules implementing the consumer laws, should be promulgated to clarify or expand the application of the consumer laws to the use of artificial intelligence.
b. Within 30 days of the director determining that an amendment or rule should be promulgated pursuant to subdivision a of this section, the director shall recommend such amendment or rule to the commissioner. In making such recommendation, the director shall provide the commissioner, and publish on the department’s website, a brief summary of the recommended amendment or rule, an explanation of the need for such amendment or rule, and proposed text for such amendment or rule.
c. In performing the review required under subdivision a of this section, the director shall solicit the opinions of other agency personnel, including the corporation counsel, the director of algorithmic accountability, the commissioner of information technology and telecommunications, and the chairperson of the New York city commission on human rights.
§ 3. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.
ALK
LS #22784
5/14/2026 12:56 PM