What's happening
This bill, "Maddox's Law," adds first degree murder charges for killing a child under twelve in New York.
Why it matters
Expands the definition of first-degree murder. to include the intentional killing of a child under twelve, increasing the potential for harsher penalties and longer sentences for offenders.
Signals a legislative focus on child protection. , responding to public concern over violent crimes against young children and aiming to deter such acts through more severe legal consequences.
May impact prosecutorial decisions and plea bargains. by providing a clearer statutory basis for charging suspects with first-degree murder in cases involving very young victims, potentially affecting how cases are handled in court.
Aligns New York law with similar statutes in other states. that recognize the killing of a young child as an especially egregious crime, reflecting evolving standards in criminal justice regarding vulnerable victims.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Child Murder First-Degree
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
13 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4461
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. COOK, COLTON, BARNWELL, HUNTER, STIRPE -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, STEC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to first degree murder of a child under the age of twelve
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act may be cited and shall be known as "Maddox's Law".
§ 2. Subparagraph (xiii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 125.27 of the penal law, as added by chapter 300 of the laws of 2001, is amended and a new subparagraph (xiv) is added to read as follows:
(xiii) the victim was killed in furtherance of an act of terrorism, as defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section 490.05 of this chapter; [and] or
(xiv) the victim was a child under the age of twelve; and
§ 3. 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.
LBD07993-01-9
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.