What's happening
This bill expands the definition of domestic violence to include identity theft, grand larceny, and coercion as qualifying crimes.
Why it matters
Broadens legal protections for abuse victims. by recognizing financial crimes (identity theft, grand larceny) and coercion as forms of domestic violence, acknowledging that abuse can go beyond physical or emotional harm.
Potentially increases access to services. victims of identity theft, grand larceny, or coercion by a family or household member could now qualify for domestic violence shelters, legal protections, and social services.
Reflects a modern understanding of abuse. , addressing tactics commonly used by abusers (such as financial control or manipulation) that previously may have left victims without sufficient legal recourse or support.
May lead to more comprehensive intervention and prevention efforts. by encouraging law enforcement and social service agencies to recognize and respond to a wider range of abusive behaviors within domestic relationships.
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Who cares
Victims of identity theft, grand larceny or coercion by family or household members
The bill would explicitly include these crimes in the domestic violence definition when the existing age, family-status and harm requirements are met.
Parents whose children are victimized
The expanded definition would cover the added crimes against their children when the bill’s family or household relationship and harm requirements are met.
Domestic violence assistance providers
The bill would broaden the explicit list of crimes they consider when identifying victims under the Social Services Law.
Headline styles
Expand Domestic Violence Crimes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.881
- Referred to social services
- Referred to social services
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.
Add Theft to Domestic Violence
In Senate Committee · Social Services · Sponsor Helene Weinstein
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6293
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to expanding the crimes included in domestic violence to include identity theft, grand larceny and coercion
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 459-a of the social services law, as amended by chapter 11 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
1. "Victim of domestic violence" means any person over the age of sixteen, any married person or any parent accompanied by his or her minor child or children in situations in which such person or such person's child is a victim of an act which would constitute a violation of the penal law, including, but not limited to acts constituting disorderly conduct, harassment, aggravated harassment, sexual misconduct, forcible touching, sexual abuse, stalking, criminal mischief, menacing, reckless endangerment, kidnapping, assault, attempted assault, attempted murder, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, [or] strangulation, identity theft, grand larceny or coercion; and
(i) such act or acts have resulted in actual physical or emotional injury or have created a substantial risk of physical or emotional harm to such person or such person's child; and
(ii) such act or acts are or are alleged to have been committed by a family or household member.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02868-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to expanding the crimes included in domestic violence to include identi- ty theft, grand larceny and coercion
Purpose of bill
This legislation will protect victims of domestic abuse by recognizing, as family offenses, some pervasive and insidious forms of economic abuse perpetrated against victims by their abusers.
Summary of provisions
OF BILL:
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 1 of § 459-a of the Family Court Act, to add identity theft, grand larceny and coercion as forms of domestic violence.
Justification
We know that in addition to physical and psychological tactics, abusers employ economic means to control and otherwise abuse their victim making it harder for victims to secure their safety.
Recognizing economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse, in 2013 via Chapter 526, New York enacted changes to the family offense laws of New York State to add certain forms of economic abuse to the definition of a family offense. At the time, the Social Services Law was inadvertently not amended. This proposal makes conforming changes to the definition of domestic violence in the Social Service Law to reflect the definition changes made to the domestic relations law and the family court act.
Legislative history
2017: S.6293 - Referred to Social Services / A.1330 - Passed Assembly 2016: A.7871 - Passed Assembly 2015: A.7871 - Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.