What's happening
This bill expands liability for injuries caused by intoxicated or impaired individuals under 21 to include drug impairment, not just alcohol.
Why it matters
Expands legal responsibility. By including “impairment of ability” due to drug use (not just alcohol intoxication), the bill broadens who can be held liable for injuries or damages caused by individuals under 21, potentially affecting more people—parents, guardians, and others who may be sued.
Covers a wide range of substances. The amendment refers to drugs listed in Schedules I-IV of New York’s public health law, which includes not only illegal drugs but also many prescription medications that could cause impairment, increasing the scope of situations covered.
Potential for increased lawsuits and accountability. This could lead to more civil claims against those who provide or allow access to impairing substances for minors, aiming to deter adults from enabling underage drug use in addition to underage drinking.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Compensation for Underage Harm
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
8 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
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.
Expand Injury Compensation for Underage Impairment
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor John E. Brooks
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5079
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 7, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. JEAN-PIERRE, D'URSO, GALEF, DiPIETRO, RAIA, McDO- NOUGH, GOTTFRIED, GIGLIO, RIVERA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to the compensation for injury or damage caused by the intoxication or impairment of ability of a person under the age of twenty-one years
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The section heading of section 11-100 of the general obligations law, as amended by chapter 274 of the laws of 1985, is amended and a new subdivision 5 is added to read as follows:
Compensation for injury or damage caused by the intoxication or impairment of ability of a person under the age of twenty-one years.
5. For the purposes of this section, "impairment of ability" shall mean the use of any drug or substance listed in schedule I, II, III or IV of section thirty-three hundred six of the public health law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06905-01-9
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.