Albany, NY – Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Westchester) announced that Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law legislation she authored (Ch. 543 of 2024) which mandates cell phone carriers limit or disable service to stolen cell phones.

This new law requires that cell phone carriers maintain a program to prevent the activation of a cell phone which appears on the GSMA Block List, a global registry of lost, stolen, fraudulent or broken devices. When a carrier is notified by a retail store selling new phones or by a verified customer that a phone has been stolen, the carrier is required to suspend or prevent the activation of the device.

“Any robbery has the potential to turn into something violent, which we saw in New York City, where Detective Brian Simonsen was tragically killed during a cell phone store robbery,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “We need to keep our officers and residents safe, and this is a commonsense step in that direction. If robbers know they won’t be able to use the phones they steal, there’s no reason to steal them.”

“Detective Brian Simonsen is a New York hero,” said Assemblyman Matt Slater. “This legislation, named in his memory, will be pivotal in assisting law enforcement’s efforts to crack down on the cell phone black market. I appreciate the efforts of all our partners, especially the NYPD’s Detective Endowment Agency and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, in getting this legislation enacted.”

“Detective Brian Simonsen's Law is named in honor of Detective Brian Simonsen, who tragically lost his life while responding to an armed robbery call at a cell phone store in Queens,” said Senator Scarcella-Spanton. “The NYPD puts their lives at risk every day to protect and serve our community. Unfortunately, our officers too often make the ultimate sacrifice, as criminals repeatedly endanger people for financial gain, whether by targeting innocent retail workers or individuals on the street. I'm proud to sponsor this legislation to better regulate the resale of stolen goods and help prevent further tragedies caused by criminals profiting from illegal activities.Thank you to Governor Hochul for signing my bill into law and to Paul DiGiacomo, Scott Munro, and the DEA for their advocacy.”

“The passage of the ‘Detective Brian Simonsen Law’ is a profound step toward protecting the safety and dignity of law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. By establishing clear guidelines for how theft-related crimes are addressed, this law honors Detective Simonsen’s legacy and ensures that we are addressing crime effectively, advancing security measures to stop theft, and protecting consumers across New York,” said Assemblywoman Rozic, Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee. “Thank you to Governor Hochul for approving this law and Assemblymember Paulin for her commitment and honoring Detective Simonsen’s memory. Together, we’re making New York safer for all.”

“Enactment of this law memorializes the name of this brave hero, Detective Brian Simonsen. His sacrifice will never be forgotten by police officers throughout this state,” said DEA President Scott Munro.

“Cell phone carriers have the power to limit or disable services to stolen phones and this new law will require them to do so,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “I thank Governor Hochul for taking this step to help prevent crime before it happens and keep New Yorkers safe.”

A.8994/S.7739 was passed in the New York State Senate by Senator Scarcella-Spanton, and the bill idea was brought to Assemblywoman Paulin by Assembly Member Matt Slater.