What's happening
This bill creates the crime of forcible touching against a child under 13, making it a class E felony in New York.
Why it matters
Strengthens legal protection for children under 13. by specifically criminalizing any intentional, non-legitimate forcible touching for sexual gratification or abuse, closing possible gaps where existing law might not clearly cover such conduct.
Elevates the seriousness of the offense. by making forcible touching of a child a class E felony, which can carry more severe penalties and long-term consequences for offenders compared to misdemeanor charges.
Expands the definition of inappropriate contact. to include not just intimate parts but any part of a child’s body if done for sexual gratification, broadening the scope of situations that can be prosecuted and potentially deterring a wider range of harmful behaviors.
Clarifies what constitutes “forcible touching”. by specifying actions like squeezing, grabbing, or pinching, which may help prosecutors and courts more effectively apply the law and support victims seeking justice.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Forcible Child Touching
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
6 Co-sponsors
3 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
847
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS, THIELE, JAFFEE, GUNTHER, BRAUNSTEIN, MONTESANO, CROUCH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, JOHNS, MALLIOTAKIS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing the offense of forcible touching against a child
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 130.51 to read as follows: § 130.51 Forcible touching against a child.
A person is guilty of forcible touching against a child when such person intentionally and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly touches:
1. the sexual or other intimate parts of a child for the purpose of degrading or abusing such child; or for the purpose of gratifying the actor's sexual desire, and the victim is less than thirteen years old; or
2. any part of a child for the purpose of gratifying the actor's sexual desire, and the victim is less than thirteen years old.
For the purposes of this section, forcible touching includes, but is not limited to squeezing, grabbing or pinching.
Forcible touching against a child is a class E felony.
§ 2. 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.
LBD01466-01-9
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.