Bill Text: NY S07926 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides for the sealing of certain criminal records upon application and qualification; makes provisions for unsealing and for availability of such records to various agencies.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-07-07 - REFERRED TO RULES [S07926 Detail]
Download: New_York-2013-S07926-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7926
I N S E N A T E
July 7, 2014
___________
Introduced by Sen. NOZZOLIO -- (at request of the Office of Court Admin-
istration) -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be
committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the correction law, the criminal procedure law and the
executive law, in relation to the sealing of records following
conviction for certain offenses
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Section 750 of the correction law is amended by adding a
2 new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
3 (6) "CONVICTION OF ONE OR MORE CRIMINAL OFFENSES" MEANS A CONVICTION
4 OR CONVICTIONS THAT HAS OR HAVE NOT BEEN SEALED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE
5 HUNDRED SIXTY OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW; AND A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN
6 "CONVICTED OF ONE OR MORE CRIMINAL OFFENSES" MEANS A PERSON WHOSE
7 CONVICTION OR CONVICTIONS HAS OR HAVE NOT BEEN SEALED PURSUANT TO SUCH
8 ARTICLE. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT APPLY TO A
9 CONVICTION WHERE USE OF SUCH CONVICTION FOR A PURPOSE SPECIFIED IN
10 SUBDIVISION SIXTEEN OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED NINETY-SIX OF THE EXECUTIVE
11 LAW WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE AN UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE PURSUANT TO
12 SUCH SUBDIVISION.
13 S 2. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 160.55 of the
14 criminal procedure law, as amended by chapter 169 of the laws of 1994,
15 is amended to read as follows:
16 Upon the termination of a criminal action or proceeding CHARGING AN
17 OFFENSE against a person by the conviction of such person of a traffic
18 infraction or a violation, other than a violation of loitering as
19 described in paragraph (d) [or (e)] of subdivision one of section 160.10
20 of this [chapter] ARTICLE or the violation of operating a motor vehicle
21 while ability impaired as described in subdivision one of section eleven
22 hundred ninety-two of the vehicle and traffic law, unless the district
23 attorney upon motion with not less than five days notice to such person
24 or his or her attorney demonstrates to the satisfaction of the court
25 that the interests of justice require otherwise, or the court on its own
26 motion with not less than five days notice to such person or his or her
27 attorney determines that the interests of justice require otherwise and
28 states the reasons for such determination on the record, the clerk of
29 the court wherein such criminal action or proceeding was terminated
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14355-03-4
S. 7926 2
1 shall immediately notify the commissioner of the division of criminal
2 justice services and the heads of all appropriate police departments and
3 other law enforcement agencies that the action has been terminated by
4 such conviction. Upon receipt of notification of such termination:
5 S 3. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new section
6 160.65 to read as follows:
7 S 160.65 SEALING THE RECORD OF A CONVICTION.
8 1. PETITION FOR SEALING; WHEN PETITION MAY BE MADE. SUBJECT TO THE
9 PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, A PERSON MAY PETITION A SUPERIOR COURT TO
10 SEAL THE RECORD OF HIS OR HER CONVICTION FOR A PAST CRIMINAL OFFENSE OR
11 OFFENSES PROVIDED HE OR SHE HAS BROUGHT NO SUCH PETITION IN THE PRECED-
12 ING TWO YEARS AND:
13 (A) SUCH PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF NOT MORE THAN ONE CRIME, AT
14 LEAST TEN YEARS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE SUCH PERSON WAS CONVICTED OF THAT
15 CRIME AND THAT CRIME WAS A FELONY OFFENSE OTHER THAN (I) A VIOLENT FELO-
16 NY OFFENSE AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION 70.02 OF THE PENAL
17 LAW, (II) ANY OFFENSE FOR WHICH A TERM OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT IS AUTHOR-
18 IZED, (III) AN OFFENSE SPECIFIED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OR TWO
19 HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE OF THE PENAL LAW, (IV) AN OFFENSE SPECIFIED IN ARTI-
20 CLE ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OR TWO HUNDRED OF THE PENAL LAW WHERE THE
21 PETITIONER WAS A PUBLIC SERVANT AT THE TIME OF THE OFFENSE, (V) AN
22 OFFENSE SPECIFIED IN SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED NINETY-TWO OF THE VEHICLE
23 AND TRAFFIC LAW, OR (VI) ANY CRIME SPECIFIED IN THE PENAL LAW FOR WHICH
24 A VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED NINETY-TWO OF THE
25 VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT; OR
26 (B) SUCH PERSON HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY, AT LEAST SEVEN
27 YEARS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE SUCH PERSON WAS LAST CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR
28 AND HE OR SHE HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF NOT MORE THAN TWO MISDEMEANORS
29 NEITHER OF WHICH WAS (I) AN OFFENSE SPECIFIED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED
30 THIRTY OR TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE OF THE PENAL LAW, (II) AN OFFENSE
31 SPECIFIED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OR TWO HUNDRED OF THE PENAL
32 LAW WHERE THE PETITIONER WAS A PUBLIC SERVANT AT THE TIME OF THE
33 OFFENSE, OR (III) AN OFFENSE SPECIFIED IN SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED NINE-
34 TY-TWO OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING,
35 IN NO EVENT MAY A PERSON BRING A PETITION UNDER THIS SECTION UNLESS HE
36 OR SHE HAS COMPLETED ANY AND ALL SENTENCES HE OR SHE RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT
37 OF SUCH CONVICTION OR CONVICTIONS. WHERE A PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF
38 A CRIMINAL OFFENSE UNDER FEDERAL LAW OR THE LAW OF ANOTHER STATE, AND
39 SUCH CONVICTION WOULD CONSTITUTE A FELONY UNDER THE PENAL LAW OF THIS
40 STATE, SUCH PERSON MAY NOT BRING A PETITION UNDER THIS SECTION; AND
41 WHERE SUCH CONVICTION WOULD CONSTITUTE A MISDEMEANOR, IT SHALL BE COUNT-
42 ED FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH AS IF IT WERE A MISDEMEANOR UNDER THE
43 PENAL LAW OF THIS STATE.
44 FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, A PERSON SHALL HAVE COMPLETED A SENTENCE
45 WHEN HE OR SHE HAS SERVED IN FULL ANY TERM OF IMPRISONMENT AND FINISHED
46 ANY TERM OR PERIOD OF PAROLE, PROBATION, CONDITIONAL RELEASE AND
47 POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION; MADE ALL REQUIRED RESTITUTION; COMPLETED ALL
48 REQUIRED COMMUNITY SERVICE; PAID ALL FINES AND SURCHARGES ASSESSED,
49 INCLUDING THOSE THAT WERE DEFERRED AND MADE SUBJECT TO COLLECTION IN THE
50 SAME MANNER AS A CIVIL JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION
51 420.40 OF THIS CHAPTER; AND OTHERWISE SATISFIED ALL CONDITIONS IMPOSED
52 BY THE SENTENCING COURT. FURTHER, THE PERIODS OF TIME SPECIFIED IN PARA-
53 GRAPHS (A) AND (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE TOLLED BY ANY PERIOD
54 FROM THE DATE OF SENTENCE TO THE DATE WHEN THE PETITIONER WAS LAST
55 RELEASED FROM ANY PERIOD OF INCARCERATION ON ACCOUNT OF THE CONVICTION
56 OR CONVICTIONS FOR WHICH SEALING IS SOUGHT.
S. 7926 3
1 NO PERSON MAY BRING A PETITION UNDER THIS SECTION WHILE ANY CHARGED
2 CRIMINAL OFFENSE IS PENDING AGAINST HIM OR HER AND NO PERSON MAY HAVE
3 MORE THAN ONE SUCH PETITION GRANTED DURING HIS OR HER LIFETIME. THE
4 RIGHT TO BRING A PETITION HEREUNDER MAY NOT BE WAIVED.
5 2. COURT TO WHICH PETITION UNDER THIS SECTION MUST BE BROUGHT; FILING
6 FEE; RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COURT. (A) A PETITION TO SEAL THE RECORD OF
7 A CONVICTION FOR A CRIMINAL OFFENSE SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF SUBDI-
8 VISION ONE OF THIS SECTION MUST BE BROUGHT IN THE SUPERIOR COURT IN
9 WHICH THE CONVICTION WAS ENTERED. A PETITION TO SEAL THE RECORD OF A
10 CONVICTION FOR A CRIMINAL OFFENSE SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVI-
11 SION ONE OF THIS SECTION MUST BE BROUGHT IN A SUPERIOR COURT OF THE
12 COUNTY IN WHICH THE COURT IN WHICH THE CONVICTION WAS ENTERED IS LOCATED
13 OR, IF THE PETITION IS TO SEAL THE RECORDS OF MORE THAN ONE SUCH
14 CONVICTION, THE PETITION MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ANY
15 COUNTY IN WHICH A COURT IN WHICH ONE OR MORE OF SUCH CONVICTIONS WAS
16 ENTERED IS LOCATED. NO COURT MAY ACCEPT A PETITION UNDER THIS SECTION
17 UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A FILING FEE OF NINETY-FIVE DOLLARS PAYABLE
18 TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, SUCH FEE MAY BE WAIVED
19 WHERE, DUE TO THE PETITIONER'S INDIGENCE, PAYMENT OF THE FILING FEE
20 WOULD WORK AN UNREASONABLE HARDSHIP ON THE PERSON OR HIS OR HER IMMEDI-
21 ATE FAMILY.
22 (B) THE SUPERIOR COURT THAT RECEIVES A PETITION UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF
23 THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL REQUEST FROM THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
24 SERVICES AND THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AN UPDATED CRIMINAL
25 HISTORY RECORD OF THE PETITIONER, INCLUDING ANY SEALED OR SUPPRESSED
26 INFORMATION. UPON RECEIPT OF THE REQUEST, THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL
27 JUSTICE SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE A CRIMINAL HISTORY REPORT AND SHALL ALSO
28 PROVIDE A REPORT FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION REGARDING ANY
29 CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION THAT OCCURRED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. THE
30 DIVISION IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE SUCH INFORMATION FROM THE
31 FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FOR THIS PURPOSE.
32 (C) (1) PROVIDED THE PETITION COMPLIES WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVI-
33 SION ONE OF THIS SECTION AND THE PETITIONER HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A
34 FELONY OFFENSE, THE COURT, IN ITS DISCRETION AND IN THE INTERESTS OF
35 JUSTICE, MAY GRANT THE PETITION AND ORDER THE SEALING OF THE RECORDS OF
36 THE PETITIONER'S CONVICTION OR MAY DISMISS THE PETITION. IF, HOWEVER,
37 THE PETITIONER HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY FELONY OFFENSE, THE COURT
38 MUST GRANT THE PETITION AND ORDER THE SEALING OF THE RECORDS OF ALL OF
39 THE PETITIONER'S CONVICTIONS FOR OFFENSES WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBDIVI-
40 SION ONE OF SECTION 10.00 OF THE PENAL LAW. WHERE THE COURT GRANTS A
41 PETITION UNDER THIS SECTION, THE COURT MUST ALSO ORDER THE SEALING OF
42 THE RECORDS OF ANY NON-CRIMINAL OFFENSE SCHEDULED IN THE PETITION THAT
43 IS MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS OLD.
44 (2) WHERE THE COURT HAS DISCRETION TO GRANT OR DISMISS A PETITION
45 PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, IT MUST, BEFORE MAKING
46 ITS DETERMINATION, NOTIFY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH
47 THE PETITIONER WAS CONVICTED OF A FELONY AND ADVISE THAT THE COURT IS
48 CONSIDERING SEALING THE RECORDS OF THAT CONVICTION. THE DISTRICT ATTOR-
49 NEY MUST BE GIVEN A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY, WHICH SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN
50 THIRTY DAYS NOR MORE THAN SIXTY DAYS, IN WHICH TO COMMENT AND SUBMIT
51 MATERIALS TO AID THE COURT IN DETERMINING THE PETITION. THE DISTRICT
52 ATTORNEY MUST PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE VICTIM, IF ANY, OF THE PETITION FOR
53 SEALING BY MAILING WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE VICTIM'S LAST-KNOWN ADDRESS.
54 FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "VICTIM" MEANS ANY PERSON WHO HAS
55 SUSTAINED PHYSICAL OR FINANCIAL INJURY TO PERSON OR PROPERTY AS A DIRECT
S. 7926 4
1 RESULT OF A FELONY THE RECORD OF WHICH THE PETITIONER IS ASKING THE
2 COURT TO SEAL.
3 (3) AT THE REQUEST OF THE PETITIONER OR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF A
4 COUNTY WHO RECEIVES NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH TWO OF THIS
5 PARAGRAPH, OR IN ITS OWN DISCRETION, THE COURT MAY CONDUCT A HEARING TO
6 CONSIDER AND REVIEW ANY RELEVANT EVIDENCE, INCLUDING TESTIMONY OF
7 WITNESSES, OFFERED BY EITHER PARTY THAT WOULD AID THE COURT IN DETERMIN-
8 ING WHETHER TO ORDER THE SEALING OF THE RECORDS OF THE PETITIONER'S
9 CONVICTIONS.
10 (4) WHERE THE COURT HAS DISCRETION TO GRANT OR DISMISS A PETITION
11 PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, IT MUST CONSIDER ANY
12 RELEVANT FACTORS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: (I) THE CIRCUMSTANCES
13 AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE THAT RESULTED IN THE CONVICTION; (II) THE
14 CHARACTER OF THE PETITIONER, INCLUDING WHAT STEPS HE OR SHE HAS TAKEN
15 SINCE THE TIME OF HIS OR HER OFFENSE TOWARD PERSONAL REHABILITATION,
16 INCLUDING TREATMENT, WORK, SCHOOL, OR OTHER PERSONAL HISTORY THAT DEMON-
17 STRATES REHABILITATION; (III) THE PETITIONER'S CRIMINAL HISTORY; (IV)
18 THE IMPACT OF SEALING THE PETITIONER'S RECORDS UPON HIS OR HER REHABILI-
19 TATION AND HIS OR HER SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE REENTRY AND REINTE-
20 GRATION INTO SOCIETY, AND UPON PUBLIC SAFETY; AND (V) ANY STATEMENTS
21 MADE BY ANY VICTIM OF AN OFFENSE COMMITTED BY THE PETITIONER WHERE THERE
22 WAS IN FACT A VICTIM OF SUCH OFFENSE.
23 (5) WHEN A COURT ORDERS THE SEALING OF THE RECORD OF A PETITIONER'S
24 CONVICTION OR CONVICTIONS, THE CLERK OF SUCH COURT SHALL IMMEDIATELY
25 NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES,
26 THE HEADS OF ALL APPROPRIATE POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND ALL OTHER LAW
27 ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND ANY COURT THAT SENTENCED THE PETITIONER
28 FOLLOWING CONVICTION OF AN OFFENSE THE RECORD OF WHICH MUST BE SEALED,
29 OF SUCH ORDER. THEREUPON, ALL OFFICIAL RECORDS AND PAPERS RELATING TO
30 THE PETITIONER'S ARRESTS, PROSECUTIONS AND CONVICTIONS, INCLUDING ALL
31 DUPLICATES AND COPIES THEREOF, ON FILE WITH THE DIVISION OR ANY COURT
32 SHALL BE SEALED AND NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY PERSON OR PUBLIC OR
33 PRIVATE AGENCY; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE DIVISION SHALL RETAIN ANY FINGER-
34 PRINTS, PALMPRINTS, PHOTOGRAPHS OR DIGITAL IMAGES OF THE SAME.
35 (6) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBPARAGRAPH FIVE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, RECORDS
36 SEALED PURSUANT TO SUCH SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO: (I) THE
37 PETITIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNATED AGENT; (II) QUALIFIED AGENCIES, AS
38 DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION NINE OF SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE OF THE
39 EXECUTIVE LAW, AND FEDERAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WHEN
40 ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES; (III) ANY STATE
41 OR LOCAL OFFICER OR AGENCY WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUANCE OF
42 LICENSES TO POSSESS GUNS, WHEN THE PETITIONER HAS MADE AN APPLICATION
43 FOR SUCH A LICENSE; (IV) ANY PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER OF A POLICE OFFICER OR
44 PEACE OFFICER AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN SUBDIVISIONS THIRTY-THREE
45 AND THIRTY-FOUR OF SECTION 1.20 OF THIS CHAPTER, IN RELATION TO AN
46 APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER,
47 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT EVERY PERSON WHO IS AN APPLICANT FOR THE POSI-
48 TION OF POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER SHALL BE FURNISHED WITH A COPY
49 OF ALL RECORDS OBTAINED UNDER THIS SUBPARAGRAPH AND AFFORDED AN OPPORTU-
50 NITY TO MAKE AN EXPLANATION THEREOF; (V) THE JUSTICE CENTER FOR THE
51 PROTECTION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, IN RELATION TO PERFORMING ITS
52 DUTIES UNDER ARTICLE TWENTY OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW; AND (VI) SUCH OTHER
53 AND FURTHER OFFICERS, INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES, PUBLIC OR
54 PRIVATE, THAT EMPLOY PERSONS WHO THEREBY HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH CHIL-
55 DREN OR OTHER VULNERABLE PERSONS AS THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF THE
56 COURTS MAY DESIGNATE, INCLUDING ALL OFFICERS, INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS
S. 7926 5
1 AND AGENCIES SUBJECT TO OPERATION, LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION BY A STATE
2 OVERSIGHT AGENCY AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION FIVE HUNDRED
3 FIFTY OF THE EXECUTION LAW OR OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO OVERSIGHT OR REGU-
4 LATION BY THE JUSTICE CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL
5 NEEDS.
6 3. DETERMINATION TO BE IN WRITING. ANY DETERMINATION GRANTING OR
7 DISMISSING A PETITION PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION MUST
8 BE IN WRITING AND, WHERE THE COURT HAS DISCRETION TO MAKE SUCH DETERMI-
9 NATION, SHALL STATE THE REASONS FOR THAT DETERMINATION.
10 4. NO RELIEF OF DISABILITIES. A DETERMINATION GRANTING A PETITION
11 PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT RELIEVE THE PETI-
12 TIONER OF ANY FORFEITURE OR DISABILITY, OR REMOVE ANY BAR TO HIS OR HER
13 EMPLOYMENT, AUTOMATICALLY IMPOSED BY LAW BY REASON OF HIS OR HER
14 CONVICTION OF THE OFFENSE THE RECORDS OF WHICH ARE THEREBY SEALED
15 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, A PETITION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION FOR SEALING THE
16 RECORD OF A CONVICTION MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN APPLICATION FOR A
17 CERTIFICATE OF RELIEF FROM DISABILITIES UNDER ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE OF
18 THE CORRECTION LAW, IN WHICH EVENT THE COURT MUST DETERMINE SUCH APPLI-
19 CATION AND SUCH DETERMINATION SHALL BE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE DETERMI-
20 NATION OF THE PETITION FOR SEALING. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL
21 PROHIBIT USE OF THE CONVICTION OF AN OFFENSE, THE RECORDS OF WHICH HAVE
22 BEEN SEALED HEREUNDER, IN ANY SENTENCING PROCEEDING, OR AS AN ELEMENT OF
23 AN OFFENSE IN ANY SUBSEQUENT CRIMINAL PROCEEDING OR REGULATORY ACTION
24 COMMENCED AGAINST THE PETITIONER BY THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVI-
25 SION THEREOF.
26 5. UNSEALING OF SEALED RECORDS. WHERE RECORDS OF A PERSON'S CONVICTION
27 OR CONVICTIONS HAVE BEEN SEALED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, SUCH RECORD OR
28 RECORDS SHALL BE UNSEALED: (A) IMMEDIATELY UPON SUCH PERSON BEING SUBSE-
29 QUENTLY ARRAIGNED ON THE CHARGE OF ANY FELONY OFFENSE UNDER THE LAW OF
30 THIS STATE, OR A CRIMINAL OFFENSE UNDER FEDERAL LAW OR THE LAW OF ANOTH-
31 ER STATE THAT, UNDER THE PENAL LAW OF THIS STATE, WOULD CONSTITUTE A
32 FELONY OFFENSE; OR (B) IMMEDIATELY UPON SUCH PERSON BEING SUBSEQUENTLY
33 CONVICTED OF ANY MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE UNDER THE LAW OF THIS STATE, OR A
34 CRIMINAL OFFENSE UNDER FEDERAL LAW OR THE LAW OF ANOTHER STATE THAT,
35 UNDER THE PENAL LAW OF THIS STATE, WOULD CONSTITUTE A MISDEMEANOR
36 OFFENSE. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF SUCH NEW ARREST, CHARGE OR
37 CONVICTION (FOLLOWING AN APPEAL THEREFROM) RESULTS IN A TERMINATION IN
38 FAVOR OF THE ACCUSED AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION 160.50
39 OF THIS ARTICLE OR IN A CONVICTION FOR A NON-CRIMINAL OFFENSE AS
40 DESCRIBED IN SECTION 160.55 OF THIS ARTICLE, SUCH UNSEALED RECORDS SHALL
41 AGAIN BE SEALED AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH FIVE OF PARAGRAPH (C) OF
42 SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
43 S 4. Subdivision 16 of section 296 of the executive law, as separately
44 amended by section 3 of part N and section 14 of part AAA of chapter 56
45 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
46 16. It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice, unless specif-
47 ically required or permitted by statute, for any person, agency, bureau,
48 corporation or association, including the state and any political subdi-
49 vision thereof, to make any inquiry about, whether in any form of appli-
50 cation or otherwise, or to act upon adversely to the individual
51 involved, any arrest or criminal accusation of such individual not then
52 pending against that individual which was followed by a termination of
53 that criminal action or proceeding in favor of such individual, as
54 defined in subdivision two of section 160.50 of the criminal procedure
55 law, or by a youthful offender adjudication, as defined in subdivision
56 one of section 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or by a conviction
S. 7926 6
1 for a violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the criminal proce-
2 dure law or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to section 160.58
3 of the criminal procedure law, OR BY A CONVICTION WHICH IS SEALED PURSU-
4 ANT TO SECTION 160.65 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW, in connection with
5 the licensing, employment or providing of credit or insurance to such
6 individual; provided, further, that no person shall be required to
7 divulge information pertaining to any arrest or criminal accusation of
8 such individual not then pending against that individual which was
9 followed by a termination of that criminal action or proceeding in favor
10 of such individual, as defined in subdivision two of section 160.50 of
11 the criminal procedure law, or by a youthful offender adjudication, as
12 defined in subdivision one of section 720.35 of the criminal procedure
13 law, or by a conviction for a violation sealed pursuant to section
14 160.55 of the criminal procedure law, or by a conviction which is sealed
15 pursuant to section 160.58 of the criminal procedure law, OR BY A
16 CONVICTION WHICH IS SEALED PURSUANT TO SECTION 160.65 OF THE CRIMINAL
17 PROCEDURE LAW. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the
18 licensing activities of governmental bodies in relation to the regu-
19 lation of guns, firearms and other deadly weapons or in relation to an
20 application for employment as a police officer or peace officer as those
21 terms are defined in subdivisions thirty-three and thirty-four of
22 section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law; provided further that the
23 provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to an application for
24 employment or membership in any law enforcement agency INCLUDING ANY
25 OFFICER, INDIVIDUAL, INSTITUTION OR AGENCY SUBJECT TO OVERSIGHT OR
26 REGULATION BY THE JUSTICE CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF PEOPLE WITH
27 SPECIAL NEEDS OR WITH ANY OTHER OFFICER, INDIVIDUAL, INSTITUTION OR
28 AGENCY DESIGNATED BY THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF THE COURTS PURSUANT TO
29 CLAUSE (VI) OF SUBPARAGRAPH SIX OF PARAGRAPH (C) OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF
30 SECTION 160.65 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW with respect to any arrest
31 or criminal accusation which was followed by a youthful offender adjudi-
32 cation, as defined in subdivision one of section 720.35 of the criminal
33 procedure law, or by a conviction for a violation sealed pursuant to
34 section 160.55 of the criminal procedure law, or by a conviction which
35 is sealed pursuant to section 160.58 of the criminal procedure law, OR
36 BY A CONVICTION WHICH IS SEALED PURSUANT TO SECTION 160.65 OF THE CRIMI-
37 NAL PROCEDURE LAW.
38 S 5. Whenever, in connection with the licensing, employment or provid-
39 ing of credit or insurance to an individual, any person, agency, bureau,
40 corporation or association, including the state and any political subdi-
41 vision thereof, inquires of such individual if he or she has been
42 convicted of a crime, whether in any form of application or otherwise,
43 such inquiry, regardless of how worded, shall be deemed to be only as to
44 convictions that have not been sealed pursuant to section 160.55, 160.58
45 or 160.65 of the criminal procedure law, and the individual to whom it
46 is directed shall answer accordingly; provided, however, this section
47 shall not apply where the inquiry would not constitute an unlawful
48 discriminatory practice under subdivision 16 of section 296 of the exec-
49 utive law.
50 S 6. Nothing in this act shall bar any person from freely speaking or
51 writing about, or publishing by any other means, any information in his
52 or her possession concerning another person's past criminal conviction
53 or convictions, notwithstanding that such conviction or convictions may
54 have been sealed pursuant to this act.
S. 7926 7
1 S 7. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
2 it shall have become a law and shall apply to all convictions occurring
3 prior to, on, and after such effective date.
