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
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to codes
- Referred to rules
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S5803
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to criminal possession of marihuana in the fifth degree
Purpose or general idea of bill
Decriminalizes "open view" possession of marihuana weighing less than 15 grams in New York City after passage of local law, resolution or ordinance.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Amends Penal Law § 221.10 in relation to "open view" possession of marihuana weighing less than 15 grams. Allows the local governing body of New York City to adopt a local law, ordinance or resolution deeming such possession to be a violation instead of a misdemeanor. Section 2: 90 days after it shall become law
Justification
Current law makes possession of small amounts of marihuana a violation punishable by a fine, while possession in open view in a public place is a misdemeanor. The disparity in criminal liability contributes to the many injustices associated with stop-and-frisk policing because a person carrying small quantities of concealed marihuana may be charged with possessing marijuana in public view if he or she follows a police officer's instruction to remove the marihuana from their pocket or bag.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
90 days after it shall become law
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.