Adds to the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree the possession, within any facility owned or operated by the state or upon school grounds, of any controlled substance or hazardous substance which has the potential to cause significant injury or death, with the intent to sell or distribute such substance.
Enacts the "responsible neighborhood preservation act" in relation to establishing adjusted closing hours for certain licensed premises due to recurring law enforcement interventions.
Provides that no state or local agency, or any agent thereof, may use any funds, facilities, property, equipment or personnel of such agency to investigate, enforce or provide assistance in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals, or maintaining a database of individuals, on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, religion or national or ethnic origin.
Prohibits the use of a victim's DNA collected from sexual offense evidence kits from being added to the state DNA identification index or other databases or being used in certain actions.
Imposes certain sentences of imprisonment for offenses committed while using public transportation; creates the offense of reckless endangerment on public transportation as a class A-I felony.
Prohibits persons who were sentenced for a crime involving unlawful sexual conduct or assault from using public transportation including services in the transportation of passengers, airports, train stations, subway and rail stations, and bus terminals.
Relates to certain crimes of interference with access to places of religious worship; expands interference to include groups of two or more people demonstrating or preparing to demonstrate one hundred feet outside of places of religious worship.
Establishes the crime of package theft in the fourth, third, second and first degrees; designates such crimes as a class A misdemeanor, class E felony, class D felony, and class B felony, respectively; provides instances that are not a defense to such crimes; provides for certain defenses to such crimes.
Creates the crime of related use of a lethal or explosive device; provides for additional 10 years imprisonment for certain crimes where a lethal or explosive device is used; permits exemption from such additional sentence when the defendant provides court with the source of such lethal or explosive device.
This bill (S 9229, "Billy's law") adds arson in the fourth degree (Penal Law § 150.05) and arson in the third degree (Penal Law § 150.10) to the list of offenses where judges may deny bail or order pre-trial detention. It directly affects defendants charged with these specific arson felonies who are already out on bail, released under conditions, or awaiting arraignment for other crimes involving harm to people or property. The law amends New York’s criminal procedure law to include these arson charges under the same bail denial criteria applied to other serious offenses like firearm possession or crimes causing identifiable harm. This change requires judges to consider the nature of the arson charge when determining pre-trial release, without altering the existing "reasonable cause" standard prosecutors must meet.
