Imposes an excise tax on the sale of ammunition to be deposited into the gun violence impact fund; establishes the gun violence impact fund; authorizes the director of the office of victim services to administer grants from the gun violence impact fund.
Relates to expungement of records for certain juveniles convicted of a nonviolent offense after seven years and satisfactory completion of such person's probation, parole, supervised release and payment of any fines imposed or restitution ordered, whichever is later.
This bill (A 4594) increases fines for repeat offenders convicted of rioting in the first degree during a declared state disaster emergency. It specifically applies to individuals with two or more prior convictions for the same crime who commit rioting again while a disaster emergency is active. The law allows courts to raise the maximum fine by up to $2,000 in these cases. The change only affects those meeting the prior conviction and emergency conditions, with no other policy changes. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly include fires caused by manufacturing controlled substances (like illegal drugs) within the definition of first-degree arson. It directly affects individuals who manufacture controlled substances and cause fires, whether to buildings, contents, or people, by expanding the circumstances that trigger this severe felony charge. The key change adds that "while manufacturing, attempting to manufacture or endeavoring to manufacture a controlled substance in violation of article two hundred twenty," causing fire or destruction now qualifies as first-degree arson. This creates a specific legal pathway to prosecute drug manufacturing operations that result in fires, without altering the underlying drug laws.
Relates to the "juvenile offender second chance act" which establishes the ability for a person to be adjudicated to be a youthful offender and receive all provisions and benefits of being a youthful offender.
This bill (S 5414) adds a new offense to New York's Agriculture and Markets Law: causing the death of an animal through specific acts of cruelty defined in existing sections (353 or 353-a) becomes a class D felony. It directly affects individuals who commit intentional cruelty (like torture, maiming, or unjustified injury) that results in an animal's death. The key mechanism is amending the law to treat the death itself as a separate felony when it occurs during the commission of other animal cruelty crimes. This raises penalties from misdemeanors to a felony for those whose actions lead to animal fatalities.
Provides that a police officer in the county of Westchester can be suspended without pay for not more than 30 days pending a trial of disciplinary charges.
Provides doula services at all correctional institutions and local correctional facilities; requires the department of corrections and community supervision to retain an organization to make at least two doulas at any given time available to provide doula services twice a week, for four hours, at all correctional institutions and local correctional facilities that house incarcerated individuals who identify as female, as well as to provide doula services during labor and delivery, upon request.
This bill makes criminal possession of fentanyl a class E felony under New York law. It directly affects individuals who knowingly possess, manufacture, distribute, or use fentanyl or its analogs to enhance other illegal substances. The key provision defines these actions as a specific felony offense, raising the legal consequences for such possession. The bill was referred to the Codes committee on January 15, 2025, and takes immediate effect.
Provides that in any jurisdiction in which a party is eligible under local law for free legal counsel, if such party has in good faith attempted to secure such counsel and is unable to obtain counsel through no fault of their own, the court shall adjourn the trial of the issue for consecutive periods of not less than fourteen days each until the party is able to secure counsel.
