S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2191
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 23, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, KRUEGER, MONTGOMERY, PARKER, SANDERS -- read
twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the
Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law and the executive law, in
relation to permitting the sealing of records of certain nonviolent
misdemeanor or non-sexual misdemeanor offenses
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "second
chance for ex-offenders act".
§ 2. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new section
160.65 to read as follows:
§ 160.65 CONDITIONAL SEALING OF CERTAIN MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES.
1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "ELIGIBLE MISDEMEANOR"
SHALL BE A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE DEFINED IN THE PENAL LAW, PROVIDED THAT
AN ELIGIBLE MISDEMEANOR SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY SEX OFFENSE AS DEFINED
UNDER SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT-A OF THE
CORRECTION LAW.
2. A PERSON HAVING A CONVICTION FOR NO MORE THAN THREE MISDEMEANORS,
WHO DOES NOT STAND CONVICTED OF ANY FELONY, OR WHO IS NOT REQUIRED TO
MAINTAIN REGISTRATION UNDER ARTICLE SIX-C OF THE CORRECTION LAW, MAY
PETITION THE COURT TO CONDITIONALLY SEAL UP TO THREE ELIGIBLE MISDEMEA-
NORS WHEN:
(A) AT LEAST FIVE YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE COMPLETION OF A SENTENCE
ON AN ELIGIBLE MISDEMEANOR; AND
(B) SUCH PERSON HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME DURING THE LAST FIVE
YEARS AND IS NOT THE SUBJECT OF AN UNDISPOSED ARREST.
3. THE PETITION AUTHORIZED BY THIS SECTION SHALL BE FILED IN THE COURT
OF RECORD THAT LAST IMPOSED A SENTENCE UPON PETITIONER FOR AN ELIGIBLE
MISDEMEANOR. ON THE DEFENDANT'S MOTION, THE COURT MAY ORDER THAT ALL
OFFICIAL RECORDS AND PAPERS RELATING TO THE ARREST, PROSECUTION AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05449-01-9
S. 2191 2
CONVICTION RECORDS FOR NO MORE THAN THREE OF THE DEFENDANT'S PRIOR
ELIGIBLE MISDEMEANORS BE CONDITIONALLY SEALED. THE COURT MAY ONLY SEAL
THE RECORDS OF THE DEFENDANT'S ARRESTS, PROSECUTIONS AND CONVICTIONS
WHEN:
(A) THE SENTENCING COURT HAS REQUESTED AND RECEIVED FROM THE DIVISION
OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES OR THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION A
FINGERPRINT BASED CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD OF THE DEFENDANT, INCLUDING
ANY SEALED OR SUPPRESSED INFORMATION. THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SERVICES SHALL ALSO INCLUDE A CRIMINAL HISTORY REPORT, IF ANY, FROM THE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION REGARDING ANY CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMA-
TION THAT OCCURRED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. THE DIVISION IS HEREBY
AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE SUCH INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVES-
TIGATION FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE PARTIES SHALL BE PERMITTED TO EXAMINE
THESE RECORDS;
(B) THE DEFENDANT OR COURT HAS IDENTIFIED THE MISDEMEANOR CONVICTION
OR CONVICTIONS FOR WHICH RELIEF MAY BE GRANTED;
(C) THE COURT HAS RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION THAT THE SENTENCES IMPOSED ON
THE ELIGIBLE MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, OR IF NO SUCH
DOCUMENTATION IS REASONABLY AVAILABLE, A SWORN AFFIDAVIT THAT THE
SENTENCES IMPOSED ON THE PRIOR MISDEMEANORS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED; AND
(D) THE COURT HAS NOTIFIED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF EACH JURISDICTION
IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF AN OFFENSE WITH RESPECT TO
WHICH SEALING IS SOUGHT, AND THE COURT OR COURTS OF RECORD FOR SUCH
OFFENSES, THAT THE COURT IS CONSIDERING SEALING THE RECORDS OF THE
DEFENDANT'S ELIGIBLE MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS. BOTH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
AND THE COURT SHALL BE GIVEN A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY, WHICH SHALL NOT
BE LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS, IN WHICH TO COMMENT AND SUBMIT MATERIALS TO
AID THE COURT IN MAKING SUCH A DETERMINATION. WHEN THE COURT NOTIFIES A
DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF A SEALING APPLICATION, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SHALL
PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE VICTIM, IF ANY, OF THE SEALING APPLICATION BY
MAILING WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE VICTIM'S LAST-KNOWN ADDRESS. FOR PURPOSES
OF THIS SECTION "VICTIM" MEANS ANY PERSON WHO HAS SUSTAINED PHYSICAL OR
FINANCIAL INJURY TO PERSON OR TO PROPERTY AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE
MISDEMEANOR CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR CRIMES FOR WHICH SEALING IS APPLIED.
4. AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEFENDANT OR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF A COUN-
TY IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT COMMITTED A CRIME THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE
SEALING APPLICATION, THE COURT MAY CONDUCT A HEARING TO CONSIDER AND
REVIEW ANY RELEVANT EVIDENCE OFFERED BY EITHER PARTY THAT WOULD AID THE
COURT IN ITS DECISION WHETHER TO SEAL THE RECORDS OF THE DEFENDANT'S
ARRESTS, PROSECUTIONS AND CONVICTIONS. IN MAKING SUCH A DETERMINATION,
THE COURT SHALL CONSIDER ANY RELEVANT FACTORS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO:
(A) THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE OR OFFENSES THAT
RESULTED IN THE CONVICTION OR CONVICTIONS;
(B) THE CHARACTER OF THE DEFENDANT, INCLUDING WHAT STEPS THE PETITION-
ER HAS TAKEN SINCE THE TIME OF THE OFFENSE TOWARD PERSONAL REHABILI-
TATION, INCLUDING TREATMENT, WORK, SCHOOL, OR OTHER PERSONAL HISTORY
THAT DEMONSTRATES REHABILITATION;
(C) THE DEFENDANT'S CRIMINAL HISTORY;
(D) THE IMPACT OF SEALING THE DEFENDANT'S RECORDS UPON HIS OR HER
REHABILITATION AND HIS OR HER SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE REENTRY AND
REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY, AND ON PUBLIC SAFETY; AND
(E) ANY STATEMENTS MADE BY THE VICTIM OF THE OFFENSE WHERE THERE IS IN
FACT A VICTIM OF THE CRIME.
5. AFTER A COURT DECLARES ITS WILLINGNESS TO GRANT THE DEFENDANT'S
REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL SEALING PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, BUT BEFORE THE
S. 2191 3
COURT ORDERS SEALING PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, THE DEFENDANT SHALL PAY A
MANDATORY CONDITIONAL SEALING FEE. THE MANDATORY CONDITIONAL SEALING FEE
WILL BE A FEE OF EIGHTY DOLLARS, HOWEVER, SUCH FILING FEE SHALL BE
WAIVED IN CASES OF INDIGENCE. THE MANDATORY FILING FEE SHALL BE PAID TO
THE CLERK OF THE COURT OR ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL THAT RENDERED THE
CONVICTION. WITHIN THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF THE MONTH FOLLOWING COLLECTION
OF THE MANDATORY FILING FEE, THE COLLECTING AUTHORITY IF IT IS AN ADMIN-
ISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, OR A TOWN OR VILLAGE JUSTICE COURT, SHALL THEN PAY
SUCH MONEY TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER WHO SHALL DEPOSIT SUCH MONEY IN THE
STATE TREASURY PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE OF THE STATE
FINANCE LAW TO THE CREDIT OF THE INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES FUND. IF SUCH
COLLECTING AUTHORITY IS ANY OTHER COURT OF THE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM, IT
SHALL, WITHIN SUCH PERIOD, PAY SUCH MONEY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE MANDATORY
FILING FEE TO THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE TO THE
CREDIT OF THE INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES FUND ESTABLISHED BY SECTION NINE-
TY-EIGHT-B OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
6. WHEN A COURT ORDERS SEALING PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, ALL OFFICIAL
RECORDS AND PAPERS RELATING TO THE ARRESTS, PROSECUTIONS, AND
CONVICTIONS, INCLUDING ALL DUPLICATES AND COPIES THEREOF, ON FILE WITH
THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES OR ANY COURT SHALL BE SEALED
AND NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY PERSON OR PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCY;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE DIVISION SHALL RETAIN ANY FINGERPRINTS, PALM-
PRINTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, OR DIGITAL IMAGES OF THE SAME.
7. WHEN THE COURT ORDERS SEALING PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, THE CLERK
OF SUCH COURT SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION
OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, AND ANY COURT THAT SENTENCED THE DEFENDANT
FOR AN OFFENSE WHICH HAS BEEN CONDITIONALLY SEALED, REGARDING THE
RECORDS THAT SHALL BE SEALED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
8. RECORDS SEALED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE
TO:
(A) THE DEFENDANT OR THE DEFENDANT'S DESIGNATED AGENT;
(B) QUALIFIED AGENCIES, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION NINE OF SECTION
EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW, AND FEDERAL AND STATE
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WHEN ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR LAW
ENFORCEMENT DUTIES;
(C) ANY STATE OR LOCAL OFFICER OR AGENCY WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
ISSUANCE OF LICENSES TO POSSESS GUNS, WHEN THE PERSON HAS MADE APPLICA-
TION FOR SUCH A LICENSE; OR
(D) ANY PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER OF A POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER AS
THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN SUBDIVISIONS THIRTY-THREE AND THIRTY-FOUR OF
SECTION 1.20 OF THIS CHAPTER, IN RELATION TO AN APPLICATION FOR EMPLOY-
MENT AS A POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT EVERY
PERSON WHO IS AN APPLICANT FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE
OFFICER SHALL BE FURNISHED WITH A COPY OF ALL RECORDS OBTAINED UNDER
THIS PARAGRAPH AND AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN EXPLANATION THERE-
TO.
9. THE COURT SHALL NOT SEAL THE DEFENDANT'S RECORD PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION WHILE ANY CHARGED OFFENSE IS PENDING.
10. IF, SUBSEQUENT TO THE SEALING OF RECORDS PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVI-
SION, THE PERSON WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF SUCH RECORDS IS ARRESTED FOR OR
FORMALLY CHARGED WITH ANY MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY OFFENSE, SUCH RECORDS
SHALL BE UNSEALED IMMEDIATELY AND REMAIN UNSEALED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
THAT IF SUCH NEW MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY ARREST RESULTS IN A TERMINATION
IN FAVOR OF THE ACCUSED AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION
160.50 OF THIS ARTICLE OR BY CONVICTION FOR A NON-CRIMINAL OFFENSE AS
S. 2191 4
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 160.55 OF THIS ARTICLE, SUCH UNSEALED RECORDS SHALL
BE CONDITIONALLY SEALED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
11. NO DEFENDANT SHALL BE REQUIRED OR PERMITTED TO WAIVE ELIGIBILITY
FOR CONDITIONAL SEALING PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AS PART OF A PLEA OF
GUILTY, SENTENCE OR ANY AGREEMENT RELATED TO A CONVICTION FOR AN ELIGI-
BLE OFFENSE AND ANY SUCH WAIVER SHALL BE DEEMED VOID AND WHOLLY UNEN-
FORCEABLE.
§ 3. Subdivision 16 of section 296 of the executive law, as amended by
section 48-a of part WWW of chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, is amended
to read as follows:
16. It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice, unless specif-
ically required or permitted by statute, for any person, agency, bureau,
corporation or association, including the state and any political subdi-
vision thereof, to make any inquiry about, whether in any form of appli-
cation or otherwise, or to act upon adversely to the individual
involved, any arrest or criminal accusation of such individual not then
pending against that individual which was followed by a termination of
that criminal action or proceeding in favor of such individual, as
defined in subdivision two of section 160.50 of the criminal procedure
law, or by a youthful offender adjudication, as defined in subdivision
one of section 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or by a conviction
for a violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the criminal proce-
dure law or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to section 160.59
or 160.58 of the criminal procedure law, OR BY A CONVICTION WHICH IS
SEALED PURSUANT TO SECTION 160.65 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW, in
connection with the licensing, employment or providing of credit or
insurance to such individual; provided, further, that no person shall be
required to divulge information pertaining to any arrest or criminal
accusation of such individual not then pending against that individual
which was followed by a termination of that criminal action or proceed-
ing in favor of such individual, as defined in subdivision two of
section 160.50 of the criminal procedure law, or by a youthful offender
adjudication, as defined in subdivision one of section 720.35 of the
criminal procedure law, or by a conviction for a violation sealed pursu-
ant to section 160.55 of the criminal procedure law, or by a conviction
which is sealed pursuant to section 160.58 or 160.59 of the criminal
procedure law, OR BY A CONVICTION WHICH IS SEALED PURSUANT TO SECTION
160.65 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW. The provisions of this subdivi-
sion shall not apply to the licensing activities of governmental bodies
in relation to the regulation of guns, firearms and other deadly weapons
or in relation to an application for employment as a police officer or
peace officer as those terms are defined in subdivisions thirty-three
and thirty-four of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law; provided
further that the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to an
application for employment or membership in any law enforcement agency
with respect to any arrest or criminal accusation which was followed by
a youthful offender adjudication, as defined in subdivision one of
section 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or by a conviction for a
violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the criminal procedure
law, or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to section 160.58 or
160.59 of the criminal procedure law, OR BY A CONVICTION WHICH IS SEALED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 160.65 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law and shall apply to all convictions occurring
prior to, on, and after such date.