Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S495
Timestamp: 2019-09-22 10:39:18
Document Index: 645451025

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1', '§170', '§52', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§  6', '§ 7', '§ 8', '§ 9', '§  52', '§ 10']

senate Bill S495
De-criminalizes the personal possession of marihuana; relates to certain pleas; specifies requirements with respect to bills affecting correctional populations
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S495 (ACTIVE) - Details
Amd §§1.05, 221.05 & 221.10, Pen L; amd §§170.56, 440.10 & 160.50, CP L; add §52-a, Leg L
2013-2014: S7927, A10175
2015-2016: S137, A6218
2017-2018: S2736, S7013, A622, A667
S495 (ACTIVE) - Summary
De-criminalizes the personal possession of marijuana; relates to certain pleas; specifies requirements with respect to bills affecting correctional populations.
S495 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S495
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the penal law, in relation to de-cri-
minalizing the personal possession of marihuana; to amend the criminal
procedure law, in relation to certain pleas; and to amend the legisla-
tive law, in relation to specifying requirements with respect to bills
affecting the penal law
disparate racial and ethnic impact seen in current marihuana and other
Section 1 states that this act shall be known as the "Fairness and Equi-
Section 2 amends subdivision 6 of section 1.05 of the penal law to state
that that the law should be enforced equally and fairly and not result
in a disparate impact on people because of their race or ethnicity.
Section 3 amends section.221.05 of the penal law to add that a person is
only guilty of "unlawful possession of marihuana" when he knowingly and
unlawfully possesses marihuana and that marihuana is burning. Section 3
also eliminates penalties escalating to jail time for the violation of
"unlawful possession of marihuana."
Section 4 amends subdivision 2 of section 221.10 of the penal law so
that the penalty for possession of small amounts of marihuana "open to
public view" is a violation, not a misdemeanor.
Section 5 amends subdivision I of section 170.56 of the criminal proce-
dure law to allow a court to order an adjournment in contemplation of
dismissal based upon a finding of exceptional circumstances.
Section 6 and 7 amends section 440.10 of the criminal procedure law to
provide for the vacating of convictions that occurred before the enact-
ment of this bill.
Section 8 amends paragraph k of subdivision 3 of section 160.50 of the
criminal procedure law to eliminate the three-year wait requirement for
the sealing of marihuana-related records.
Section 9 adds a new secticn 52-a to the legislative law to create
guidelines for the implementation and use of racial and ethnic impact
statements to accompany certain legislation.
Section 10 establishes the effective date.
has been "decriminalized" in New York State. It is a violation punisha-
ble by a fine, not a misdemeanor that leads to arrest.
detracting from the prosecution of serious crime." (Chapter 360, Laws of
are far more likely to possess and use marijuana than non-whites.
In other words, in New York, possessing small amounts of marijuana is
for possessing amounts of marijuana to have their records stricken or
sealed. And, the bill creates a process for the legislature to avoid
such a severe inequitable impact in the future through racial and ethnic
impact statements. These statements would provide information to deter-
mine if certain proposed legislation would disproportionately impact
racial and ethnic minorities and if that legislation, when enacted,
causes a disparate impact.  Connecticut, Iowa, and Oregon have already
implemented racial and ethnic impact statements, which are most analo-
gous to New York's "fiscal notes."
2016: S137B/A6218-REFERRED TO CODES/referred to codes
2015: S137A/A6218-REFERRED TO CODES/referred to codes
2014: S7927/A10175-REFERRED TO RULES/referred to codes
2017-2018: S7013
S495 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
Introduced by Sens. RIVERA, KENNEDY, MONTGOMERY, SEPULVEDA -- read twice
AN  ACT  to  amend  the  penal  law, in relation to de-criminalizing the
personal possession of marihuana; to amend the criminal procedure law,
in relation to certain pleas; and to amend  the  legislative  law,  in
relation  to  specifying  requirements with respect to bills affecting
Section  1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "fairness
and equity act".
§ 2. Subdivisions 5 and 6 of section 1.05 of the penal  law,  subdivi-
sion  5  as amended by chapter 612 of the laws of 1982 and subdivision 6
as amended by chapter 98 of the laws of 2006, are  amended  to  read  as
5.  To  provide  for  an  appropriate  public  response  to particular
the victim, including the victim's family, and the community; [and]
6. TO ENSURE THAT LAWS ARE ENFORCED EQUALLY  AND  FAIRLY  AND  DO  NOT
RESULT IN A DISPARATE IMPACT ON PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE OR ETHNICI-
TY; AND
7.  To  insure  the  public  safety  by  preventing  the commission of
offenses through the deterrent influence of  the  sentences  authorized,
the rehabilitation of those convicted, the promotion of their successful
and  productive  reentry  and  reintegration  into  society,  and  their
confinement when required in the interests of public protection.
§ 3. Section 221.05 of the penal law, as added by chapter 360  of  the
LBD05601-01-9
A  person  is guilty of unlawful possession of marihuana when he know-
ingly and unlawfully possesses marihuana AND SUCH MARIHUANA IS BURNING.
fine of not more than one hundred dollars. [However, where the defendant
has previously been convicted of an offense defined in this  article  or
ously convicted of two such offenses committed during such period.]
§ 4. Section 221.10 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 265 of the
laws  of  1979,  subdivision  2  as amended by chapter 75 of the laws of
§ 5. Subdivision 1 of section 170.56 of the criminal procedure law, as
amended  by  chapter  360  of  the  laws  of 1977, is amended to read as
1.  Upon or after arraignment in a local criminal court upon an infor-
mation, a prosecutor's information or a misdemeanor complaint, where the
sole remaining count or counts  charge  a  violation  or  violations  of
section  221.05,  221.10,  221.15, 221.35 or 221.40 of the penal law and
before the entry of a plea of guilty thereto or commencement of  a trial
thereof, the court, upon motion of  a  defendant,  may  order  that  all
proceedings  be  suspended  and the action adjourned in contemplation of
dismissal, or upon a finding that adjournment would not be necessary  or
appropriate  and the setting forth in the record of the reasons for such
findings, may dismiss in furtherance of justice the  accusatory  instru-
ment;  provided,  however, that the court may not order such adjournment
in contemplation of dismissal or dismiss the accusatory  instrument  if:
(a)  the  defendant  has  previously  been  granted  such adjournment in
contemplation of dismissal, or (b) the  defendant  has  previously  been
granted  a dismissal under this section, or (c) the defendant has previ-
ously been convicted of any offense involving controlled substances,  or
(d)  the  defendant  has  previously  been  convicted of a crime and the
district attorney does not consent or (e) the defendant  has  previously
been  adjudicated  a  youthful  offender on the basis of any act or acts
involving controlled substances  and  the  district  attorney  does  not
consent.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN THIS SUBDIVISION,
THE COURT MAY ORDER THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS BE  SUSPENDED  AND  THE  ACTION
ADJOURNED  IN  CONTEMPLATION OF DISMISSAL BASED UPON A FINDING OF EXCEP-
TIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION,  EXCEPTIONAL
CIRCUMSTANCES  EXIST WHEN, REGARDLESS OF THE ULTIMATE DISPOSITION OF THE
CASE, THE ENTRY OF A PLEA OF GUILTY IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN SEVERE COLLA-
TERAL CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT  LIMITED  TO,  THOSE  THAT  COULD
LEAVE A NONCITIZEN INADMISSIBLE OR DEPORTABLE FROM THE UNITED STATES.
§  6. Paragraphs (h) and (i) of subdivision 1 of section 440.10 of the
criminal procedure law, paragraph (h) as amended by chapter 332  of  the
laws  of  2010,  paragraph  (i) as amended by chapter 368 of the laws of
2015 and the opening paragraph of (i) as amended by chapter 189  of  the
laws  of  2018,  are amended and a new paragraph (j) is added to read as
under the constitution of this state or of the United States; [or]
(J) THE JUDGMENT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE  OF  THIS  PARA-
GRAPH AND IS A CONVICTION FOR AN OFFENSE AS DEFINED BY SECTION 221.10 OF
THE PENAL LAW (CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF MARIHUANA IN THE FIFTH DEGREE), AS
IN  EFFECT  PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, PROVIDED THAT
THE ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT THAT UNDERLIES THE JUDGMENT DOES  NOT  INCLUDE
AN  ALLEGATION  THAT THE DEFENDANT POSSESSED MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE GRAMS
§ 7. Subdivision 6 of section 440.10 of the criminal procedure law, as
6. If the court grants a motion under paragraph (i) OR  PARAGRAPH  (J)
§ 8. Paragraphs (i), (j) and (k) of subdivision 3 of section 160.50 of
the  criminal  procedure  law, such subdivision as renumbered by chapter
142 of the laws of 1991, paragraphs (i) and (j) as added by chapter  905
of  the  laws  of  1977 and paragraph (k) as added by chapter 835 of the
laws of 1977 and as relettered by chapter 192 of the laws of  1980,  are
(i)  prior to the filing of an accusatory instrument in a local crimi-
nal court against such person, the prosecutor elects  not  to  prosecute
such  person.  In such event, the prosecutor shall serve a certification
of such disposition upon the division of criminal justice  services  and
upon  the appropriate police department or law enforcement agency which,
upon receipt thereof, shall comply with  the  provisions  of  paragraphs
(a),  (b),  (c)  and  (d) of subdivision one of this section in the same
manner as is required thereunder with respect to an  order  of  a  court
entered pursuant to said subdivision one[.]; OR
(j)  following the arrest of such person, the arresting police agency,
prior to the filing of an accusatory  instrument  in  a  local  criminal
court  but subsequent to the forwarding of a copy of the fingerprints of
such person to the division of criminal justice services, elects not  to
proceed  further. In such event, the head of the arresting police agency
shall serve a certification of such disposition  upon  the  division  of
this  section  in the same manner as is required thereunder with respect
to an order of a court entered pursuant to said subdivision one[.]; OR
three years have passed since the offense occurred].
§ 9. The legislative law is amended by adding a new  section  52-a  to
§  52-A.  REQUIREMENT  WITH  RESPECT  TO BILLS INCREASING CORRECTIONAL
POPULATIONS.  1. WHENEVER A COMMITTEE REPORTS A BILL FAVORABLY WHICH, IF
PASSED, WOULD INCREASE OR DECREASE THE PRETRIAL OR SENTENCED  POPULATION
OF  CORRECTIONAL  FACILITIES  IN THIS STATE, A MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS VOTING MAY REQUEST THAT A RACIAL AND ETHNIC IMPACT STATEMENT  BE
PREPARED. EACH HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE SHALL SEPARATELY PRESCRIBE RULES
REQUIRING  RACIAL  AND ETHNIC IMPACT STATEMENTS TO ACCOMPANY, ON A SEPA-
RATE FORM, BILLS AND AMENDMENTS TO BILLS  AFTER  SUCH  BILLS  HAVE  BEEN
REPORTED  FROM  COMMITTEE.  RACIAL AND ETHNIC IMPACT STATEMENTS SHALL BE
PREPARED BEFORE THE BILL IS CONSIDERED FOR FINAL PASSAGE.  THE STATEMENT
SHALL INDICATE WHETHER THE BILL WOULD HAVE A  DISPARATE  IMPACT  ON  THE
RACIAL  AND  ETHNIC  COMPOSITION OF THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY POPULATION
AND AN EXPLANATION OF THAT IMPACT. ANY RACIAL AND ETHNIC  IMPACT  STATE-
MENT  PRINTED  WITH  OR PREPARED FOR A BILL IS SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF
INFORMATION, SUMMARIZATION AND EXPLANATION FOR MEMBERS OF  THE  LEGISLA-
TURE  AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REPRESENT THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLA-
TURE OR EITHER CHAMBER THEREOF FOR ANY PURPOSE. EACH RACIAL  AND  ETHNIC
IMPACT  STATEMENT  SHALL  BEAR  THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER: "THE FOLLOWING
RACIAL AND ETHNIC IMPACT STATEMENT IS PREPARED FOR THE  BENEFIT  OF  THE
MEMBERS  OF  THE LEGISLATURE, SOLELY FOR PURPOSES OF INFORMATION, SUMMA-
RIZATION AND EXPLANATION AND DOES NOT REPRESENT THE INTENT OF THE LEGIS-
LATURE OR EITHER CHAMBER THEREOF FOR ANY PURPOSE."
2. RACIAL AND ETHNIC IMPACT STATEMENTS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO  THE
PUBLIC  IN  THE SAME MANNER THAT THE TEXT OF BILLS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO
§ 10. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day  after  it  shall