Senate Codes Committee reports 11 bills, including codification of gun violence office and abolition of citizen—s arrest

The Senate Standing Committee on Codes reported 11 bills on Monday during a short, remote session, advancing proposals that range from codifying the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to abolishing citizens— arrest in New York State.

The committee, convened by the chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Codes, moved a package of public-safety and criminal-law measures to the next legislative step. The most prominent items included legislation to codify a state Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a measure on —personalized handguns,— and a bill to abolish citizens— arrest; several other measures addressed weapons restrictions, training requirements for police and child-protective workers, and criminal statutes on fraud and abuse.

The committee advanced each bill by motion; most were "reported" out of committee (a procedural step to send the bill to the full Senate or a subsequent committee). Recorded objections were limited to a small number of senators on particular bills; where the transcript identified dissenting members, those names are recorded below.

Senate Print 1289 (sponsor: Senator Myrie) — Office of Gun Violence Prevention Sponsor Senator Myrie described this bill as codifying an office first established by executive order in 2021 and moving it into the Division of Criminal Justice Services. "I think it's really important in this moment, that New York step up, in the absence of a federal office of gun violence prevention," Myrie said during remarks on the bill. The motion to report was moved by Senator Cooney and seconded by Senator Briscoe; Senator Murray registered "without recommendation." The bill was reported.

Senate Print 1455 (sponsor: Senator Kavanaugh) — Safer Weapons, Safer Homes Act (personalized handguns) The Safer Weapons, Safer Homes Act would require the Division of Criminal Justice Services to certify the technological viability of personalized handguns, set retail-sale requirements, and maintain a roster of approved personalized handguns. The committee moved the bill (moved by Senator Prasad, seconded by Senator Cooney). Senators Palumbo and Murray were recorded in the negative; the bill was reported.

Senate Print 5138 (sponsor: Senator Gineris) — Abolition of citizen's arrest Senate Print 5138 would abolish citizens— arrest in New York State. Senator Briscoe moved the bill and Senator Gennardez seconded. Senators Murrow, Murray and Colombo were recorded in the negative; the bill was reported.

Senate Print 54 (sponsor: Senator Fernandez) — Victim intoxication not a defense Senate Print 54 would prohibit using a victim—s intoxication as a defense when the victim was rendered temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling conduct and that condition was or should have been known to the actor. The motion was moved by Senator Passat and seconded by Senators Cooney and Palumbo. Senator Brissport was recorded "without recommendation." The bill was reported.

Senate Print 626 (sponsor: Senator Skibitski) — Ammunition restrictions after certain convictions This measure would add ammunition to the list of prohibited items to purchase or possess after certain convictions. The motion was moved by Senator Cooney and seconded by Senator Prasad; Senators Briscoe and Palumbo were noted "without recommendation." The bill was reported.

Senate Print 2295 (sponsor: Senator Bailey) — Training for police and child-protective workers Senate Print 2295 would require police officers to receive training on crimes involving sexual assaults and would require certain training for child-protective services workers. The motion was moved by Senator Grissad and seconded by Senator Murray; the bill was reported.

Senate Print 3204 (sponsor: Senator Cooper) — First-degree government fraud; conspiracy and tax-fraud definitions The bill creates the offense of defrauding the government in the first degree, expands the definition of conspiracy in the fourth degree, and relates to tax-fraud ads. The motion to refer was moved by Senator Cooney and seconded by Senator DeNardez; the bill was referred to the Finance Committee.

Senate Print 3831 (sponsor: Senator Quinny Siegel) — Removal of 10-year time limit for persistent abuse This bill removes the 10-year time period from the crime of persistent sexual abuse. The motion was moved by Senator Gennardis and seconded by Senator Murray; Senator Briscoe registered "without recommendation." The bill was reported.

Senate Prints 4757 and 4767 (sponsor: Senator Bailey) — Operation Snug grants; autism/developmental-disability response training Senate Print 4757 would establish an Operation Snug grant program within the Division of Criminal Justice Services to provide grants to reduce, prevent or respond to gun violence. Senate Print 4767 would require training for police officers on responding to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Both bills were moved and reported with bipartisan support recorded in the transcript.

Senate Print 5041 (sponsor: Senator Sepulveda) — Unlawful dissemination of intimate images Senate Print 5041 would add unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image to the definition of victim of a sexual offense. The motion was moved by Senator Cooney and seconded by Senator Murray; the bill was reported.

Votes at a glance (selected recorded opposition/without-recommendation as stated in the transcript): - SP1289 (Office of Gun Violence Prevention): Senator Murray without recommendation. - SP1455 (Safer Weapons, Safer Homes): Senators Palumbo and Murray in the negative. - SP5138 (Abolish citizen's arrest): Senators Murrow, Murray and Colombo in the negative. - SP54 (Victim intoxication defense): Senator Brissport without recommendation. - SP626 (Ammunition restrictions): Senators Briscoe and Palumbo without recommendation. - SP3831 (Persistent abuse time removal): Senator Briscoe without recommendation.

Committee chair closed the meeting after reporting the final bill. The session lasted approximately seven minutes and proceeded with brief discussion on some measures and routine motions to move bills forward.

(Committee remarks quoted in this article come from the meeting transcript and are attributed where the transcript identified the speaker.)