Bill > A00462

This bill modifies New York's penal law regarding harassment charges by expanding the circumstances under which someone can be charged with harassment in the first and second degree. Specifically, the bill clarifies that an individual can be charged with harassment in the first degree if they have previously been convicted of the same offense within the past ten years, even if the prior conviction involved a different victim. Similarly, for harassment in the second degree, a person can be charged if they have a prior conviction within the past five years, again regardless of whether the previous victim was different. The bill also introduces a new provision that allows for a harassment charge if the actor engages in a pattern of harassing multiple individuals. The language changes replace gender-specific terms like "he or she" with more neutral terminology like "the actor" and explicitly state that the prior offense's victim does not need to be the same person as in the current case. The bill is designed to provide law enforcement and prosecutors with more flexibility in addressing repeated instances of harassment, potentially offering greater protection for victims by making it easier to pursue charges against repeat offenders.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A462