Int. No. 1159
By Council Members Brewer and Louis
A Local Law in relation to the creation of a working group to study agency use of communication technologies
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. As used in this local law, the following terms have the following meanings:
Agency. The term “agency” means a city, county, borough, or other office, department, division, bureau, board or commission, or a corporation, institution, or agency of government, the expenses of which are paid in whole or in part from the city treasury.
City. The term “city” means the city of New York.
Department. The term “department” means the department of records and information services.
Instant electronic messaging platform. The term “instant electronic messaging platform” means a messaging platform designed primarily for the exchange of short, informal messages between a small group of individuals in near-real time, excluding electronic mail.
Working group. The term “working group” means the communication technologies working group established by this local law.
§ 2. Working group established. The department shall establish a working group to study instant electronic messaging platforms used by agencies and record retention of communications made through such platforms. The working group shall be composed of the following members:
1. The commissioner of the department;
2. At least one representative from:
(a) The department of information technology and telecommunications; and
(b) The law department; and
3. At least two experts in the field of record retention and freedom of information laws.
§ 3. Duties. No later than 180 days after the effective date of this local law, the working group shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council a report regarding:
1. Agency use of instant electronic messaging platforms, including specific platforms used;
2. Each agency’s instant electronic messaging policy, if any; and
3. Recommendations regarding:
(a) Best practices to retain records of communications made on instant electronic messaging platforms;
(b) Suggested changes to the department’s policy regarding instant electronic messaging records, including suggested changes to the definitions of transitory messages and substantive messages; and
(c) Methods to inform all agency staff of the responsibility to retain records, including training programs and awareness campaigns.
§ 4. Publication of report. The commissioner of the department shall publish the report required pursuant to section 3 of this local law on the department’s website no later than 10 days after its submission to the mayor and the speaker of the council.
§ 5. Termination. This working group shall terminate 180 days after the date on which it submits the report required pursuant to section 3 of this local law.
§ 6. This local law takes effect immediately.
REC
LSR #26329
10/20/2026 3:54 PM