Prohibits the throwing, tossing, expectorating or expelling of saliva or other bodily secretion or excretion at or on an employee of a correctional facility

Title of bill

An act to amend the penal law, in relation to the aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate

Purpose or general idea of bill

To amend Section 240.32 of the penal law, in relation to aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate to include acts or actions by an inmate which are not currently covered under Section 240.32.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 adds the following material to those which constitute aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate: saliva, other bodily secretion or excretion, and the contents of a toilet bowl. Section I also amends 240.32 by including the actions of "expectorating" and" placing...at or on such employee" any of the elements defined in Section 240.32. This legislation also makes a technical correction to add the female gender to the definition of an inmate in this Section.

Justification

This legislation has been drafted in response to actions taken recently by an inmate against an employee at a correctional facility in Sullivan County. In this particular case an inmate emptied the contents of a toilet bowl on a correctional officer. Without direct knowledge regarding the contents of said bowl, the officer was treated for possible exposure to urine, feces, and communicable disease. Since it was later determined that the contents of the toilet bowl did not contain urine or feces (which are material covered under 240.32), no action could be taken against the inmate under Section 240.32 of the penal law. This legislation would correct this omission so that no matter the contents contained in a toilet bowl the inmate could still be charged under 240.32. This legislation also seeks to remedy other omissions or oversights in the law regarding the types of material or actions which may occur and have occurred in correctional and/or other facilities covered under this section of law. This includes "expectorating" and "placing...at or on such employee" of any material defined in this section of law.

REFER TO SECTION 240.32 PRACTICE COMMENTARY WHICH STATES THAT, AS THE CURRENT LAW IS WRITTEN WITH REGARD TO THE OBJECTIONABLE SUBSTANCE BEING THROWN, TOSSED OR EXPELLED. THIS "SPECIFICATION ARGUABLY EXCLUDES OTHER METHODOLOGIES, SUCH AS DIRECTLY PLACING THE OBJECTIONABLE SUBSTANCE ON AN EMPLOYEE'S PERSON "

"Saliva", and "other bodily secretion or excretion" are also added as material which constitute aggravated harassment under Section 240.32. This bill will go one step further in considering the types of unhealthy, offensive and potentially injurious actions which may be taken against our public servants in the course of their duties so that they can feel confident and protected under the law and so that inmates will not get away with such actions which are clearly intended to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm. (Note: Section 240.32 is written so that there must be intent on the part of the inmate to harass. Therefore, for example, any unintended action such as an inmate who is sick and accidentally vomits on an employee, would not constitute aggravated harassment).

Legislative history

2007-08: A.1177 Died in Assembly Codes 2005-06: A.386 Died in Assembly Codes 01/15/04: A.9438 - Referred to Codes 2001-02: A.7717 - Died in Codes Committee 1999-00: A.7717 - New Bill EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.