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
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 7237c
- Amend and recommit to codes
- Print number 7237b
- Amend and recommit to codes
- Print number 7237a
- Amend and recommit to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Establishes the crimes of forcible touching in the second and first degrees as a class A misdemeanor and class E felony, respectively
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Aravella Simotas
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S7237C
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to forcible touching on public transportation
Purpose
To amend the penal law to make it a crime for a person to rub his or her sexual or intimate body parts on another person while aboard public transportation.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends section 130.52 of the Penal Law relating to forcible touching in the second degree to provide that when a person intentionally touches or rubs his or her sexual or intimate body parts on another person, clothed or unclothed, for the purpose of gratifying his or her sexual desire or with the intent to degrading or abusing such other person while they are a passenger on public transportation, it is a class A misdemeanor.
Section two of the bill adds new section 130.52-a to the Penal Law to establish the offense of forcible touching in the first degree. This offense, which is a class E felony, is committed when a person commits the crime of forcible touching in the second degree and emits certain bodily fluids onto such other person.
Justification
According to the Manhattan District Attorney, Darnell Hardware "entered a crowded subway train during rush hour, pressed his body against a female victim, and rubbed his penis on her. Because of the crowded subway car, the women were unable to move away from the defendant, who ejaculated on the women's bodies and clothing, and then fled. The victims were young women commuting to and from work or school." Currently, the Penal Law fails to clearly address these abhorrent acts. Darnell Hardware and others like him avoid prison because the law fails to address the seriousness of this crime.
This measure closes this loophole and recognizes that these disgusting crimes on public transportation are particularly egregious because riders are essentially captives of their attackers. No person should have to endure the sickening feeling of being masturbating against by a stranger in an enclosed space.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first day of November after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.