What's happening
This bill increases penalties for promoting or contributing to a suicide attempt, especially for vulnerable or disabled individuals.
Why it matters
Expands criminal liability to cases where someone endangers the welfare of vulnerable groups. including incompetents, vulnerable elderly, or physically disabled persons—if their actions significantly contribute to a suicide attempt or completion, not just direct encouragement or assistance.
Recognizes the heightened risk and potential exploitation faced by vulnerable individuals. , aiming to deter those who might otherwise take advantage of their status to promote or facilitate suicide.
Upgrades such acts from misdemeanors or lesser charges to felonies (class E for attempts, class C if resulting in death). , meaning more severe legal consequences and longer potential prison sentences for offenders.
Broadens the definition of criminal responsibility in suicide-related cases. , potentially resulting in more prosecutions and serving as a stronger deterrent for behaviors that could lead vulnerable individuals toward self-harm.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase Penalties for Assisting Suicide
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- 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.
Penalize Promoting Suicide Attempts
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Didi Barrett
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1294
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sens. SERINO, RANZENHOFER, SEWARD, TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to penalties for promotion of a suicide attempt
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 120.30 of the penal law is amended to read as follows: § 120.30 Promoting a suicide attempt.
A person is guilty of promoting a suicide attempt when:
(a) he or she intentionally causes or aids another person to attempt suicide; or
(b) he or she endangers the welfare of an incompetent, a vulnerable elderly person or a physically disabled person as set forth in section 260.25, 260.32 or 260.34 of this chapter and such conduct significantly contributed to the victim's suicide attempt.
Promoting a suicide attempt is a class E felony.
§ 2. Section 125.15 of the penal law is amended to read as follows: § 125.15 Manslaughter in the second degree.
A person is guilty of manslaughter in the second degree when:
1. He or she recklessly causes the death of another person; or
2. He or she commits upon a female an abortional act which causes her death, unless such abortional act is justifiable pursuant to subdivision three of section 125.05; or
3. He or she intentionally causes or aids another person to commit suicide; or
4. He or she endangers the welfare of an incompetent, a vulnerable elderly person, or a physically disabled person as set forth in section 260.25, 260.32 or 260.34 of this chapter and such conduct significantly contributed to the victim's suicide.
Manslaughter in the second degree is a class C felony.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00564-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to penalties for promotion of a suicide attempt
Purpose
To increase penalties for endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physical disabled person or a vulnerable elderly person when it signif- icantly contributes to a victim's suicide attempt.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Adds certain violations related to endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physical disabled person or a vulnerable elderly person to the definition of promoting a suicide attempt when such conduct significantly contributes to the victim's suicide attempt.
Section 2: Adds the same provisions above to the definition of manslaughter in the second degree.
Section 3: Establishes the effective date.
Justification
Bailey Bates, a 19-year-old autistic man from Poughkeepsie, New York, tragically committed suicide in July of 2017 after falling victim to a financial scam. According to reports, a young woman whom he had known for years befriended him shortly before the scheme and asked him for help cashing a check, which ultimately resulted in the young woman and her accomplice stealing money from an account holding his disability assistance. When Bailey's family learned of the illegitimate transaction they contacted law enforcement who began an investigation. Bailey's family has indicated that he was extremely distraught over this betrayal of his trust and they believe - with the local law enforcement - that he did not understand what was happening or that he was a victim in this case. Tragically, a week after this crime, he took his own life and based on a note that he left, it was clear he believed he had done some- thing wrong.
Given the facts of this case, the accused stand only to be charged with minimal counts of endangerment and grand larceny despite reported crimi- nal histories and acute knowledge that Bailey was a vulnerable victim. While no law can bring Bailey back, it is important that people are held accountable for the outcome of their actions, particularly in cases where they prey on the most vulnerable. Hopefully with this legislation, other potential scam artists will think twice about the permanent damage they can cause not only their victim, but the many friends and loved ones of those they victimize.
Legislative history
2018: S.8541 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.