Creates the crime of unlawful defilement of a water supply

Summary of specific provisions

Presently, there is currently no specific crime of to specifically punish the defilement of a water supply.

This bill would amend the Penal Law to create a new crime of unlawful defilement of a water supply. Pursuant to this bill, a person would be guilty of this crime if he intentionally introduces, places or causes to be introduced or placed, into a water supply, a defiling agent with the intent to cause the sickness, physical injury severe disfigurement or death of another human being, or with the reckless disregard of causing the sickness, physical injury, severe disfigurement, or death of another human being, or with the intent to cause irreparable harm to such water supply, or to disturb the public peace.

This bill would define "water supply" to mean any public or private transmission facility, treatment facility source of supply facility, well or reservoir, which provides potable water for residential, commercial, industrial and/or fire service needs and would define "defiling agent" to mean any chemical, biological or radioactive agent or substance, which is capable when introduced or placed into a water supply, of causing the sickness, physical injury, severe disfigurement, or death of a human being, or causing irreparable harm to such water supply, or causing a disturbance to the public peace. It should be noted that pursuant to the terms of this bill, a defiling agent would not include a substance which is introduced or placed into a water supply by any municipal or state entity, or which is introduced or placed into a water supply by any agricultural or industrial entity, as a result of its ordinary lawful operations.

The unlawful defilement of a water supply would be a Class B felony.

Justification

Terrorism is a crime which is not just committed against the individuals and families that are caught in its wake, but also against all of society as a whole. It is the ultimate in senseless violence and its purposeful disregard for the sanctity and value of human life is well known. It is a crime which strikes at the very basis of our free society, and it demands not only our highest attention, but most importantly. our best efforts to secure the

highest level and swiftest form of justice that our state and nation can provide.

By creating a new crime of unlawful defilement of a water supply in article 490.60 of the Penal Law, this bill seeks to protect and prevent a terrorist attack against our most important and vulnerable resource our drinking water.

Clean, sale, potable water is indispensable to our state and society. Because of natural conditions and the quantities consumed, its supply is often publicly exposed an d readily accessible to those who might wish to cause mass harm to a society. Because of its critical nature, when even a few days interruption in its supply could be cataclysmic, it is a highly attractive target to terrorists.

As a result, special precautions and targeted measures need to be taken to protect and defend this precious resource. The new Class B felony established by this bill would severely punish the poisoning or adulteration of a water supply and will send a strong message that New York will take whatever strong measures are necessary to protect its citizens and their vital needs from the evils of terrorism.

Prior legislative history

2008: S.3588, Passed Senate (59-0)

Fiscal implications

This bill would reduce costs for state and local government incurred in the event of a water supply defilement

Effective date

This act would take effect on the first day of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.