Establishes the crime of concealment of a death

4 Co-sponsors

• Greg Ball
• Martin J. Golden
• Michael F. Nozzolio
• Ted O'Brien

BILL NUMBER:S1590

Title of bill

An act to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing the crime of concealment of a death

Purpose or general idea of bill

To establish the crime of concealment of a death.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one identifies this law as "Amanda Lynn's Law."

Section two provides that a person is guilty of concealment of a death when he or she knowingly moves or otherwise conceals a human corpse so that discovery of the death of such person will be hindered. Concealment of a death is a class D felony.

Section three provides the effective date.

Justification

Current law regulates the manner in which funeral directors, medical professionals and cemeteries can dispose of a human body and/or its remains. Disposal of a dead body without the authority of a burial or removal permit is a misdemeanor. This is inadequate to address situations where a body is moved or concealed so that discovery of the person's death will be hindered. Moving a body with such odious intentions is a serious crime deserving of an elevated penalty. This bill is named for Amanda L. Wienckowski, who died tragically in 2008.

Prior legislative history

S.6489 of 2011-2012; Passed senate The crime of concealment of a death is included in S.8862A of 2012.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the 180 day after it shall have become a law.