What's happening
This bill creates the crime of coercive control, making it a felony to use controlling behavior against family or household members.
Why it matters
Recognizes non-physical abuse. The bill addresses forms of domestic abuse that don't involve physical violence, such as controlling a person's finances, movement, or social associations, reflecting a broader understanding of how abuse operates.
Provides new legal protections. Victims of coercive control would have a clear path to seek justice for behaviors that are currently difficult to prosecute, potentially improving safety and support for those experiencing psychological or economic abuse.
Sets legal boundaries and exceptions. By excluding actions done under legal authority (like guardianship or parental control), the bill aims to criminalize only abusive conduct, not legitimate oversight or caregiving roles.
Elevates the seriousness of controlling behavior. Classifying coercive control as a felony signals that the state treats ongoing, manipulative, and controlling conduct within households as a serious crime, which could have significant consequences for offenders.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Coercive Control Illegal
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Outlaw Coercive Control Abuse
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Andrew Hevesi
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5306
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 24, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- 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 establishing the crime of coercive control
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 135.80 to read as follows: § 135.80 Coercive control.
A person is guilty of coercive control when he or she engages in a course of conduct against a member of his or her same family or household, as defined in section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law, without the victim's consent, which results in limiting or restricting, in full or in part, the victim's behavior, movement, associations or access to or use of his or her own finances or financial information. For the purposes of this section, lack of consent results from forcible compulsion, as defined in subdivision eight of section 130.00 of this title, or from fear that refusal to consent will result in further actions limiting or restricting the victim's behavior, movement, associations or access to or use of his or her own finances or financial information. This section shall not apply to actions taken pursuant to a legal arrangement granting one person power or authority over another person, including, but not limited to, power of attorney arrangements as defined in paragraph (j) of subdivision two of section 5-1501 of the general obligations law, guardians of the property or person as defined in subdivisions (c) and (d) of section 83.03 of the mental hygiene law, or parental control of a minor child.
Coercive control is a class E felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11291-01-9
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 estab- lishing the crime of coercive control
Purpose or general idea of bill
Relates to establishing the crime of coercive control
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 135.80
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately
Justification
Coercive control refers to abuse as a "strategic course of oppressive behavior," meaning that battering is:
- rational, instrumental behavior and not a loss of control
- "ongoing" rather than episodic
- based on multiple tactics like violence, intimidation, degradation, isolation and control
Although times are changing, men still possess gender-based privilege and sixty - eighty percent of abused women experience coercive control beyond physical and emotional abuse
This legislation will prompt advocates to look beyond the violence and access ones actions and behaviors within Intimate Partner violence
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.