What's happening
This bill makes theft or unauthorized possession of blank official New York State prescription forms a crime, with criminal penalties.
Why it matters
Addresses prescription drug fraud at its source. by specifically criminalizing the theft or unauthorized possession of blank prescription forms, which are often used to illegally obtain controlled substances.
Expands the definition of grand larceny and criminal possession. to include blank prescription forms, placing these offenses on par with theft of other sensitive or high-risk items like religious artifacts or materials used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Targets both individuals and employees. by making exceptions only for those legally allowed to possess the forms, such as authorized prescribers and their staff, aiming to close loopholes and clarify who can handle these documents.
Signals a broader public health and safety effort. to combat opioid abuse, prescription fraud, and "doctor shopping," potentially reducing the supply of unlawfully obtained prescription drugs and their misuse in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Prescription Form Theft
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred 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.
Criminalize Stolen Prescription Forms
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2250
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sens. HANNON, YOUNG -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the theft and unlawful possession of a blank official New York state prescription form
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 9, 10 and 11 of section 155.30 of the penal law, subdivision 9 as amended by chapter 479 of the laws of 2010, subdivision 10 as added by chapter 491 of the laws of 1992 and subdivision 11 as added by chapter 394 of the laws of 2005, are amended and a new subdivision 12 is added to read as follows:
9. The property consists of a scroll, religious vestment, a vessel, an item comprising a display of religious symbols which forms a representative expression of faith, or other miscellaneous item of property which:
(a) has a value of at least one hundred dollars; and
(b) is kept for or used in connection with religious worship in any building, structure or upon the curtilage of such building or structure used as a place of religious worship by a religious corporation, as incorporated under the religious corporations law or the education law[.]; or
10. The property consists of an access device which the person intends to use unlawfully to obtain telephone service[.]; or
11. The property consists of anhydrous ammonia or liquified ammonia gas and the actor intends to use, or knows another person intends to use, such anhydrous ammonia or liquified ammonia gas to manufacture methamphetamine[.]; or
12. The property consists of a blank official New York state prescription form, as set forth in section two hundred eighty-one of the public health law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02905-01-7
S. 2250 2
§ 2. Subdivisions 6 and 7 of section 165.45 of the penal law, subdivision 6 as added by chapter 450 of the laws of 1990 and subdivision 7 as added by chapter 394 of the laws of 2005, are amended and a new subdivision 8 is added to read as follows:
6. The property consists of a scroll, religious vestment, vessel or other item of property having a value of at least one hundred dollars kept for or used in connection with religious worship in any building or structure used as a place of religious worship by a religious corporation, as incorporated under the religious corporations law or the education law[.]; or
7. The property consists of anhydrous ammonia or liquified ammonia gas and the actor intends to use, or knows another person intends to use, such anhydrous ammonia or liquified ammonia gas to manufacture methamphetamine[.]; or
8. The property consists of a blank official New York state prescription form, as set forth in section two hundred eighty-one of the public health law.
§ 3. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 220.67 to read as follows: § 220.67 Criminal possession of a prescription form.
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a prescription form when such person knowingly possesses a blank official New York state prescription form, as set forth in section two hundred eighty-one of the public health law, unless:
(a) such person is legally authorized, according to the laws and regulations of New York state, to possess such prescription form; or
(b) such person is an employee of a person legally authorized to possess such prescription form, according to the laws and regulations of New York state, and possesses such prescription form during the course and scope of such person's employment.
Criminal possession of a prescription form is a class A misdemeanor.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to the theft and unlawful possession of a blank official New York state prescription form
Purpose
This bill criminalizes the theft and unlawful possession of a blank official New York state prescription form.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill adds subsection (12) to § 155.30 of the Penal Law to include a blank official New York state prescription form to the list of property covered by grand larceny in the fourth degree.
Read the full memo (616 words)
Section two of the bill adds subsection (8) to § 165.45 of the Penal Law to include a blank official New York state prescription form to the list of property covered by criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree.
Section three adds a § 220.67 to the Penal Law to create the crime of criminal possession of a prescription form. A person is guilty of criminal possession of a prescription form when such person knowingly possesses a blank official New York State prescription form, unless such person is legally authorized to possess the form or such person is an employee of a person legally authorized to posses the form acting within the scope of his or her employment.
Section four provides an effective date or the first of November succeeding its enactment.
Justification
Prescription drug abuse is a growing crisis in both New York State and the country at large. In this state, there has been armed violence, deaths by overdose and suicide, and increasing rates of addiction. New York State has a preeminent program for combating prescription theft and forgery. In the mid-1980s, the state instituted triplicate forms for controlled substances and saw a 54% decrease in forgeries. Unfortunately, this system and current penal laws are insufficient to counter the theft, possession, and sale of blank official prescription forms. Current law forces authorities to wait until someone sells a prescription form before law enforcement can act.
The Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement estimates that since 2008, approximately 1.4 million official scripts have been stolen from NYC hospitals alone. In 2011, the Office of the New York City special Prosecutor exposed a drug ring on Staten Island and indicted 31 people. The extensive drug trafficking ring sold Oxycodone to customers out of an ice cream truck. The endeavor injected nearly 43,000 pills into the New York City metropolitan area, worth an estimated $1 million. Prosecutors also found 300 illegally obtained prescription forms. The leaders of the drug ring purchased the blank prescription forms from a medical receptionist who pilfered them from her employer. Unfortunately, in similar situations, current law precludes the investigators from acting until the person taking or holding a blank form sells it to someone else.
This bill creates a criminal penalty for three specific situations. First, grand larceny, a class E felony, will punish someone who steals a blank prescription form. Second, criminal possession of stolen property, which occurs when someone possesses a blank prescription form, knowing ii is stolen and intending to benefit from it. This is also a class E felony. Finally, criminal possession of a prescription form, a class A misdemeanor, punishes someone who knowingly and unlawfully possesses a blank official New York state prescription form. These changes are necessary to combat the criminal diversion of prescription drugs, which feeds addiction, increases overdose and suicide rates, and fuels profits for drug dealers and other criminals.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.3402 - Passed Senate, died in Assembly 2013-2014: S.2940 - Passed Senate, died in Assembly (both years)
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of November succeeding its enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.