What's happening
The bill adds that the definition of "person" in homicide cases applies only to humans who have been born and is named "Mya's law."
Why it matters
Clarifies legal protections in homicide cases. by making it explicit that only humans who have been born (and are alive) are considered "persons" under New York’s homicide statutes, which means unborn fetuses are not covered as homicide victims under this definition.
May influence debates around fetal rights and abortion. in New York, as it draws a clear legal boundary at birth for when personhood—and thus protections against homicide—begins.
Could impact how prosecutors approach certain cases. , such as those involving violence against pregnant individuals, since charges related to the death of an unborn child would not fall under homicide statutes as defined here.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Define Homicide Victim as Born
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Held for consideration in codes
- 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.
Define Homicide Victim as Born
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Robert Ortt
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1736
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 16, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. HAWLEY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the definition of person
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 125.05 of the penal law is amended to read as follows:
1. "Person," when referring to the victim of a homicide, means a human being who has been born and is alive. This provision shall be known as "Mya's law".
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02388-01-9
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.