Bill > S00018

This bill modifies the New York Criminal Procedure Law to expand bail and pre-trial detention options for arson-related felonies. Specifically, the bill adds arson in the fourth and third degrees (as defined in sections 150.05 and 150.10 of the penal law) to the list of offenses where bail can be set and pre-trial detention can be considered. The changes apply to multiple sections of the criminal procedure law, updating language to use gender-neutral terminology (replacing "his or her" with "their") and expanding the circumstances under which a judge can deny bail or impose pre-trial conditions. The bill allows prosecutors to show reasonable cause that a defendant committed the current crime and any underlying crime, with some flexibility for negligible theft that doesn't appear to be part of broader criminal activity. Notably, the bill is named "Billy's law" and will take effect 90 days after becoming law, potentially giving courts and law enforcement more discretion in handling arson-related cases by making pre-trial detention easier to impose for these specific arson felonies.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S18