What's happening
This bill increases monetary and criminal penalties for aggravated harassment or discrimination under New York civil rights law.
Why it matters
Significantly increases financial penalties. for those found guilty of aggravated harassment or discrimination, aiming to create a stronger deterrent and ensure that repeated offenders face escalating consequences.
Upgrades criminal charges from misdemeanors to felonies. for these offenses, which means convictions will result in more severe criminal records, longer potential prison sentences, and lasting impacts on future employment and civil rights for offenders.
Provides greater recourse and potential compensation for victims. , as higher penalties can be recovered in civil court, potentially making it more worthwhile for victims to pursue justice.
Signals heightened societal condemnation. of aggravated harassment and discrimination, reflecting legislative intent to treat these behaviors as serious, rather than minor, infractions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase Penalties for Harassment
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5682
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 14, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CURRAN, RAIA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. HAWLEY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation to increasing the monetary and criminal penalties for aggravated harassment or discrimination
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 40-d of the civil rights law, as amended by chapter 191 of the laws of 1982, is amended to read as follows:
§ 40-d. Penalty for violation. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of the foregoing section, or subdivision three of section 240.30 or section 240.31 of the penal law, or who shall aid or incite the violation of any of said provisions shall for [each and every] the first violation thereof be liable to a penalty of not less than [one] five hundred dollars nor more than [five] twenty-five hundred dollars, and for each subsequent violation thereof be liable to a penalty of not less than twenty-five hundred dollars nor more than twelve thousand five hundred dollars, to be recovered by the person aggrieved thereby in any court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the defendant shall reside. In addition, any person who shall violate any of the provisions of the foregoing section shall be deemed guilty of a class [A misdemeanor] E felony for the first violation thereof and a class D felony for any subsequent violation thereof. At or before the commencement of any action under this section, notice thereof shall be served upon the attorney general.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08531-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.