Bill > A00870

This bill proposes to modify the existing penal law regarding persistent sexual abuse by removing the ten-year time limitation for prosecuting repeat offenders. Currently, an individual could be charged with persistent sexual abuse if they committed certain sexual offenses (such as forcible touching, sexual abuse in the third degree, or sexual abuse in the second degree) and had been previously convicted of similar offenses within a ten-year period. The proposed amendment eliminates the ten-year time restriction, meaning that prior convictions for these sexual offenses can be counted towards a persistent sexual abuse charge regardless of when they occurred. This change effectively makes it easier to prosecute individuals with a history of repeated sexual offenses by removing the temporal limitation. The bill classifies persistent sexual abuse as a class E felony, and if passed, will take effect on the first of November following its enactment. The modification aims to provide broader legal tools for prosecuting repeat sexual offenders by expanding the lookback period for prior convictions.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A870