BILL NUMBER: S8666
SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to restricting
youth sports operators and youth sports facilities from prohibiting
parents and guardians from taking in-person recordings or photographs of
their children
 
PURPOSE:
To protect the right of parents and guardians to take in-person photo-
graphs and video recordings of their own children at youth sports
events, while allowing reasonable, safety-based restrictions.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill amends the General Business Law by adding a new Article 41-A
governing youth sports facilities and youth sports operators. The bill
prohibits such facilities and operators from banning or restricting
parents or guardians from taking in-person photographs or video
recordings of their own children during youth sports events.
Specifically, the bill prevents facilities and operators from requiring
parents to purchase photography or video services as a condition of
recording their child, conditioning a child's participation or a
parent's admission on waiving recording rights, or confiscating or disa-
bling personal recording devices. The bill allows reasonable, content-
neutral restrictions narrowly tailored to safety, preventing interfer-
ence with play, compliance with court orders or privacy laws, or
limiting access to restricted areas.
The bill also requires facilities and operators to post clear notice of
these rights and renders unenforceable any contract, waiver, or policy
that attempts to waive or restrict a parent's ability to record their
own child. The bill does not prohibit facilities from offering photogra-
phy or video services for sale, provided those services are not used to
limit parental rights.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Parents and guardians routinely attend youth sports events to support
their children and to document important moments in their development.
In recent years, some youth sports facilities and operators have adopted
policies that prohibit or restrict parents from taking in-person photos
or videos of their own children, or that require parents to purchase
exclusive recording services to access footage.
These practices can be confusing, burdensome, and unfair to families.
They may also limit parents' ability to share memories, monitor their
child's experience, or maintain personal records of participation. This
bill establishes a clear, statewide baseline that protects parental
rights while preserving the ability of facilities and operators to
impose reasonable safety-based rules.
By making these protections explicit and uniform, the bill provides
clarity for parents, facilities, and operators alike, and ensures that
families are not forced to surrender basic rights as a condition of
participation in youth sports.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.