Relates to injury against females by males age eighteen or older and second degree assault

BILL NUMBER:S3486

Title of bill

An act to amend the penal law, in relation to injury against females by males age eighteen or older and second degree assault

Summary of provisions

Section 1 Amends section 120.05 of the penal law by adding a new subdi- vision 12 to provide that a male eighteen years of age or older who, with intent to cause physical injury to a female person, causes physical injury to such female person will be guilty of Assault in the Second Degree.

Section 2 provides that this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law.

Purpose and justification

Currently, a person with intent to cause physical injury causes physical injury to a person, is guilty of Assault in the Third Degree, which is an A misdemeanor. Section 120.05, Assault in the second degree, is a class D felony, and relates to causing seri- ous physical injury, or to certain specific classes of persons, physical injury. These classes are for people deemed particularly vulnerable, including police and peace officers, first responders, social service workers, children under eleven years of age and persons over sixty-five years of age. This bill would add to this list of vulnerable persons females who are attacked by males over eighteen years of age. Women continue to remain more vulnerable in our society, whether from muggers or from domestic violence, and this bill will help to further protect them.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

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