What's happening
This bill prohibits the sale or promotional distribution of machetes to minors under eighteen in New York.
Why it matters
Expands existing knife sale restrictions to include machetes. , recognizing them as potentially dangerous items similar to utility knives and box cutters and responding to concerns about youth access.
Specifically defines what constitutes a "machete". in state law, which could help clarify enforcement and remove ambiguity for retailers about what is covered under the ban.
Allows exceptions for employment-related use. , meaning minors can still use machetes under supervision in jobs (such as landscaping) but only on the employer’s premises and during work, balancing safety with practical employment needs.
Creates the possibility of local governments enacting stricter rules. , which means some areas could choose to go further than the state law in regulating access to machetes and similar tools for minors.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Machete Sales to Minors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to consumer protection
- Referred to consumer protection
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.
Ban Machete Sales to Minors
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Philip Ramos
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
658
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BOYLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the sale or promotional distribution of machetes to minors
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 399-qq of the general business law, as added by chapter 243 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
§ 399-qq. Sale or promotional distribution of machetes, utility knives, box cutters, or box cart cutters. 1. No person, firm, or corporation shall sell or offer to sell or give away as either a retail or wholesale promotion a machete, utility knife, box cutter, or box cart cutter to any person under eighteen years of age.
2. For purposes of this section, the term "utility knife", "box cutter", or "box cart cutter" means a knife consisting of a razor blade, retractable or non-retractable, attached to or contained within a plastic or metal housing. For the purposes of this section, the term "machete" means a large heavy knife with a broad blade, used primarily for cutting brush or vegetation.
3. The provisions of this section shall not preclude the temporary transfer of a machete, utility knife, box cutter, or box cart cutter to a person under eighteen years of age by such person's employer where such device is possessed only on the employer's premises and only during the course and scope of such person's employment.
4. No provision of this section shall be deemed to restrict the authority of any county, city, town or village to enact and enforce additional local laws, ordinances or codes, or portions thereof, provided the provisions thereof are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04495-01-9
S. 658 2
5. Any person, firm, or corporation who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars.
§ 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 general business law, in relation to prohibiting the sale or promotional distribution of machetes to minors
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would prohibit businesses from selling machetes to minors.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Of the general business law, no person, firm, or corporation shall sell or offer to sell or give away as either a retail or wholesale promotion a machete to any person under eighteen years of age. To define, the term "machete" means a large heavy knife with a broad blade, used primarily for cutting brush or vegetation.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
In recent years, the number of violent assaults between and among gangs have increased in the State of New York. In many of these attacks, machetes have been the weapon of choice. By prohibiting sale to minors, this bill seeks to reduce accessibility of this dangerous weapon.
Currently under New York State law, it is illegal for a minor to possess a machete with intent to use as a weapon; however, it is still legal for businesses to sell machetes to minors. This bill would expand the list of items prohibited to sell to minors to include machetes.
Prior legislative history
2017-18 Passed Senate 6/7/18, Delivered to Assembly and referred to Consumer Protection
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.