What's happening
This bill creates a statewide program to assess, prevent, and suppress gang-related crime, including grants, coordinated strategies, and a gang information clearinghouse.
Why it matters
This bill increases statewide coordination among law enforcement and prosecutors, aiming to disrupt gang operations that often cross city and state lines—potentially making investigations and prosecutions more effective.
It provides dedicated funding (via grants) to local district attorneys, but requires them to assess local gang activity and propose comprehensive prevention and intervention plans, encouraging a mix of enforcement and community-based solutions.
By establishing a centralized gang information clearinghouse, the bill aims to close information gaps between agencies, supporting faster identification of gang trends, members, and activities—possibly leading to earlier intervention and better resource targeting.
The law emphasizes partnerships not just within New York but with other states (“supplier states”), reflecting a recognition that much gang-related crime is linked to interstate activity (e.g., trafficking), and encouraging formal agreements to combat this broader threat.
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Who cares
District attorneys
The bill would make grants available for anti-gang programs and direct prosecutors to enter collaborative agreements with agencies in supplier states to combat gang-related crime in New York.
New York State Police
The superintendent would develop and implement a gang suppression strategy with law enforcement agencies and district attorneys, including identifying and prosecuting criminal street gang leaders who may be violating the law.
Division of Criminal Justice Services
The division would administer the grant program, maintain a central gang information clearinghouse and establish law enforcement reporting procedures.
Local law enforcement agencies
Agencies would participate in the coordinated suppression strategy and report information about criminal gangs operating in New York under procedures established by the division.
Headline styles
Stop Gang Crime Program
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to rules
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.
Fight Gangs With Prevention Program
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Philip Ramos
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6478
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 13, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a gang assessment, intervention, prevention and suppression program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 837-t to read as follows:
§ 837-t. Gang assessment, intervention, prevention and suppression program. 1. There is hereby created within the division a gang assessment, intervention, prevention and suppression program to be administered by the commissioner to distribute funds in accordance with the provisions of this section for the purpose of eliminating the scourge of gang related criminal activity in New York state.
2. The superintendent of the division of state police, in cooperation with all local, state and federal law enforcement personnel, and the district attorneys in New York state, shall develop and implement a strategy for the suppression of gang related criminal activity. The strategy shall include, but not be limited to, identifying and prosecuting the core leadership of criminal street gangs who may be violating federal, state or local laws, and cooperating with all federal law enforcement agencies and appropriate prosecutorial agencies and law enforcement agencies in other states in the investigation and enforcement of our penal laws. District attorneys are authorized and directed to enter into collaborative agreements with prosecutorial and other governmental agencies and entities in supplier states in an effort to stop gang related criminal activities in New York state.
3. The commissioner shall award grant monies, as available, to district attorneys for programs which are designated to stop gang related criminal activities in New York state. To qualify for such grant monies, a district attorney must submit an application to the commis-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07564-01-9
S. 6478 2
sioner in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the division. The application shall at a minimum:
(a) include an assessment of gang related criminal activities in the targeted area;
(b) offer a plan for state intervention and prevention of such activities; and
(c) preview a coordinated law enforcement strategy for suppression of gang related illegalities within the affected community. Funds awarded under this section may be used to supplement federal, state or local funds.
4. The division shall establish and maintain a gang clearinghouse as a central repository of information, coming into the possession of any state or local law enforcement entity, regarding all criminal gangs found to be operating within New York state. The division shall adopt and promulgate regulations prescribing reporting procedures for such state or local law enforcement agencies, including the form for reporting such information.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a gang assessment, intervention, prevention and suppression program
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require the division of criminal justice services ("DCJS") to deploy the division of state police to develop a coordinated law enforcement response to gang related criminal activities in communities across the state.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the executive law by adding a new section 837-t to create a gang assessment, intervention, prevention, and suppression program to be administered by the commissioner of DCJS. The superintendent of the division of state police, in conjunction with local, state, federal law enforcement and county prosecution offices, shall develop a strategy for the suppression of gang related criminal activity. The commissioner shall award grant monies, as available, to district attorneys' offices to step gang related activities in their respective counties. DCJS shall also establish and maintain, within the division, a gang clearinghouse as a central repository of information relating to gangs operating within the state.
Section 2 of the bill sets forth the effective date.
Justification
The assistance, expertise, and professionalism of DCJS and state police women and men are desperately needed by many communities that find them- selves threatened by gang violence and criminality.
Legislative history
A.5938 of 2017-18 advanced to third reading cal.990 A.4486 of 2015-16 referred to codes A.6128of 2013-14 ordered to third reading rules cal.225 A.3834A of 2012 passed assembly A.11087 of 2010 vetoed memo.6785
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.