What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Print number 6148b
- Amend and recommit to rules
- Print number 6148a
- Amend and recommit to rules
- Referred to rules
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to prohibiting the possession of guns in or upon the grounds of buildings that serve alcoholic beverages
Purpose
To prohibit the possession of rifles, shotguns, and firearms in establishments that serve alcohol.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: A person is guilty of possession of a firearm in the fourth degree if he or she knowingly has in his or her possession a rifle, shotgun or firearm in or upon the premises of an establishment for which a license to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption has been issued pursuant to the alcoholic beverage control law.
Section 2: The provisions in section 1 do not apply to owners or employees of the licensed premises who have the responsibility of protecting their establishment and its patrons, or any member of a "club" as defined in subdivision 9 of section 3 of the alcoholic beverage control law, who is located on any portion of the premises used exclusively for the consumption of alcoholic beverages, including the exterior grounds of any golf course or outdoor recreation area affiliated with such club.
Section 3 relates to the effective date.
Justification
A recent survey conducted by David Randolph Smith Law Firm revealed that 23 states expressly prohibit carrying loaded guns in areas serving alcohol. While New York state law prohibits the carrying of firearms on education grounds and school buses, it currently does not have a statute that directly relates to the consumption of alcohol.
The goal of this legislation is to expand current law to other sensitive places such as bars, restaurants, and night clubs, where the combination of firearms and alcohol on the premises of drinking establishments creates a danger and threat to public safety. This legislation recognizes that, while the mere presence of permitted guns in bars may not be harmful per se, these guns may become harmful by the intervention and acts of other persons and patrons, whether they are intentional or not.
In addition to the exemptions provided for in section 265.20 of the penal law, the bill exempts owners and employees who have the responsibility to protect their drinking establishments and its patrons, and members of nonprofit "clubs" such as fraternal and veterans organizations.
A violation of the provisions set forth in the bill constitutes a class A misdemeanor.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
120 days after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.