Bill > A00394

This bill amends the New York Criminal Procedure Law to expand the circumstances under which bail can be denied for certain harassment offenses that are classified as hate crimes. Specifically, the bill adds harassment in the first and second degrees, as well as aggravated harassment in the first and second degrees, to the list of offenses where bail can be restricted. The changes apply to multiple sections of the criminal procedure law related to bail and recognizance, updating language to be gender-neutral (changing "his or her" to "the defendant's" or "the principal's") and expanding the types of crimes that can be considered for bail restrictions. The bill aims to provide courts with more discretion in setting bail for hate crime-related harassment offenses, potentially making it harder for individuals charged with these specific types of hate-motivated harassment to be released before trial. The modifications are technical in nature but could have significant implications for how these particular hate crime cases are handled in the New York criminal justice system. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A394