Bill Text: NY A00072 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits disclosure of immigration status for victims of domestic violence; adds enhanced penalties for coercive threats to expose immigration status of victims and witnesses of domestic violence.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-06 - referred to codes [A00072 Detail]
Download: New_York-2015-A00072-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 72 2015-2016 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y (PREFILED) January 7, 2015 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC, ABINANTI, BARRETT, BORELLI, CAHILL, COOK, FAHY, JAFFEE, LAVINE, MAYER, MILLER, MOSLEY, O'DONNELL, PERRY, ROBERTS, ROBINSON, ROSENTHAL, SCARBOROUGH, SEPULVEDA, TITONE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BRENNAN, CLARK, GLICK, GOTTFRIED, HEASTIE, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, the social services law, the family court act, the penal law and the executive law, in relation to maintaining the confidentiality of immigration status for victims of domestic violence THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as 2 "The New York State Violence Against Women Act". 3 S 2. Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b) and paragraph (c) of subdivi- 4 sion 4 of section 140.10 of the criminal procedure law, subparagraph 5 (ii) of paragraph (b) as amended by chapter 107 of the laws of 2004 and 6 paragraph (c) as amended by chapter 4 of the laws of 1997, are amended 7 to read as follows: 8 (ii) The respondent or defendant commits a family offense as defined 9 in subdivision one of section eight hundred twelve of the family court 10 act or subdivision one of section 530.11 of this chapter in violation of 11 such order of protection or special order of conditions. AN OFFICER 12 MAKING AN ARREST UNDER THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL NOT INQUIRE AS TO THE 13 IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON WHOM THE ORDER PROTECTS. IF SUCH 14 STATUS IS ASCERTAINED AND WOULD RESULT IN ADVERSE IMMIGRATION CONSE- 15 QUENCES TO SUCH PERSON, THE OFFICER SHALL NOT REPORT SUCH INFORMATION TO 16 ANY LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. 17 (c) a misdemeanor constituting a family offense, as described in 18 subdivision one of section 530.11 of this chapter and section eight 19 hundred twelve of the family court act, has been committed by such EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00639-01-5 A. 72 2 1 person against such family or household member, unless the victim 2 requests otherwise. The officer shall neither inquire as to whether the 3 victim seeks an arrest of such person nor threaten the arrest of any 4 person for the purpose of discouraging requests for police intervention. 5 THE OFFICER SHALL ALSO NOT INQUIRE AS TO THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE 6 VICTIM; NOR SHALL SUCH OFFICER, IF INFORMED OF SUCH STATUS, REPORT SUCH 7 INFORMATION TO ANY LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. 8 Notwithstanding the foregoing, when an officer has reasonable cause to 9 believe that more than one family or household member has committed such 10 a misdemeanor, the officer is not required to arrest each such person. 11 In such circumstances, the officer shall attempt to identify and arrest 12 the primary physical aggressor after considering: (i) the comparative 13 extent of any injuries inflicted by and between the parties; (ii) wheth- 14 er any such person is threatening or has threatened future harm against 15 another party or another family or household member; (iii) whether any 16 such person has a prior history of domestic violence that the officer 17 can reasonably ascertain; and (iv) whether any such person acted defen- 18 sively to protect himself or herself from injury. The officer shall 19 evaluate each complaint separately to determine who is the primary phys- 20 ical aggressor and shall not base the decision to arrest or not to 21 arrest on the willingness of a person to testify or otherwise partic- 22 ipate in a judicial proceeding. 23 S 3. Subdivision 2 of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law is 24 amended by adding a new paragraph (j) to read as follows: 25 (J) THAT ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE PETITIONER'S IMMIGRATION STATUS 26 SHALL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL NOT BE REFERRED OR REPORTED TO ANY 27 LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. 28 S 4. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new section 29 2.25 to read as follows: 30 S 2.25 PROHIBITIONS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND PEACE OFFICERS. 31 A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OF THE STATE OR A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF 32 THE STATE OR A PEACE OFFICER MAY NOT INQUIRE AS TO THE NATIONALITY OR 33 IMMIGRATION STATUS OF A VICTIM OF OR WITNESS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AS 34 SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED BY SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE-A OF THE 35 SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, EXCEPT AS NECESSARY TO INVESTIGATE THE OFFENSE, NOR 36 SHALL SUCH OFFICER REPORT OR REFER SUCH STATUS TO ANY LOCAL, STATE OR 37 FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. 38 S 5. Section 459-h of the social services law is amended by adding a 39 new subdivision 3 to read as follows: 40 3. ALL INFORMATION RELATED TO A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE'S IMMI- 41 GRATION STATUS SHALL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND SHALL NOT BE DISCLOSED FOR 42 ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING SUCH INVESTIGATIONS THAT MAY BE CONDUCTED BY ANY 43 LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELATING TO SAID INDIVID- 44 UAL'S IMMIGRATION STATUS. 45 S 6. Subdivision 2 of section 812 of the family court act is amended 46 by adding a new paragraph (h) to read as follows: 47 (H) THAT ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE PETITIONER'S IMMIGRATION STATUS 48 SHALL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL NOT BE REFERRED OR REPORTED TO ANY 49 LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. 50 S 7. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 70.11 to read as 51 follows: 52 S 70.11 SENTENCES OF IMPRISONMENT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; AGGRAVATING 53 FACTORS. 54 IN MATTERS DIVESTED TO A CRIMINAL COURT UNDER SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED 55 TWELVE OF THE FAMILY COURT ACT, OR WHERE SUCH COURT EXERCISES CONCURRENT 56 JURISDICTION UNDER SUCH SECTION AND IN MATTERS REFERRED TO A CRIMINAL A. 72 3 1 COURT UNDER ARTICLE SIX-A OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, WHERE THE RESPOND- 2 ENT THREATENS TO EXPOSE A WITNESS OR A VICTIM'S IMMIGRATION STATUS IN 3 ORDER TO COERCE SUCH VICTIM OR WITNESS OR CONCEAL SUCH OFFENSE, SHALL 4 RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING ENHANCEMENT OF SUCH SENTENCE: 5 (A) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.00 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 6 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS E FELONY; 7 (B) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.05 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 8 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS C FELONY; 9 (C) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.10 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 10 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS A FELONY; 11 (D) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.13 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 12 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS D FELONY; 13 (E) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.14 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 14 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS E FELONY; 15 (F) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.15 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 16 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR; 17 (G) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.20 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 18 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS E FELONY; 19 (H) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.25 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 20 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS C FELONY; 21 (I) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.45 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 22 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR; 23 (J) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.50 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 24 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS E FELONY; 25 (K) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.55 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 26 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS D FELONY; 27 (L) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 120.60 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 28 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS C FELONY; 29 (M) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 121.11 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 30 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS E FELONY; 31 (N) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 121.12 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 32 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS C FELONY; 33 (O) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 121.13 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 34 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS B FELONY; 35 (P) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.25 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 36 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS D FELONY; 37 (Q) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.30 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 38 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS C FELONY; 39 (R) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.35 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 40 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS A FELONY; 41 (S) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.40 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 42 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS D FELONY; 43 (T) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.45 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 44 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS C FELONY; 45 (U) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.50 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 46 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS A FELONY; 47 (V) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.55 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 48 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR; 49 (W) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.60 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 50 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS E FELONY; 51 (X) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.65 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 52 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS C FELONY; 53 (Y) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.65-A OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 54 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS D FELONY; 55 (Z) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.66 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 56 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS C FELONY; A. 72 4 1 (AA) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.67 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 2 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS B FELONY; 3 (BB) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 130.70 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 4 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS A FELONY; 5 (CC) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 135.05 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 6 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS E FELONY; 7 (DD) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 135.10 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 8 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS D FELONY; 9 (EE) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 135.20 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 10 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS A FELONY; 11 (FF) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 135.45 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 12 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS E FELONY; 13 (GG) FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED UNDER SECTION 135.50 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE 14 SENTENCE SHALL REFLECT A CLASS D FELONY. 15 S 8. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 844 to read 16 as follows: 17 S 844. INQUIRY INTO IMMIGRATION STATUS PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN CIRCUM- 18 STANCES. IN CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATORY ACTIVITY, INCLUDING AN INTER- 19 VIEW, INTO ANY INCIDENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN 20 ARTICLE SIX-A OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR A 21 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL SHALL NOT INQUIRE ABOUT OR SEEK PROOF OF A 22 PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS, NOR SHALL SUCH OFFICER, IF INFORMED OF SUCH 23 STATUS, REFER OR REPORT ANY FINDINGS REGARDING SUCH STATUS TO ANY LOCAL, 24 STATE OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED IN 25 SUCH INVESTIGATORY ACTIVITY REGARDING A PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS 26 SHALL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. 27 S 9. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the amend- 28 ments to subdivision 4 of section 140.10 of the criminal procedure law 29 made by section two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such 30 subdivision and shall be deemed repealed therewith.