Bill > S03453

This bill relates to enhancing penalties and protections for victims of domestic violence through several key provisions. The bill modifies existing penal law to increase criminal penalties for repeat offenders in various domestic violence-related crimes, including harassment, aggravated harassment, assault, strangulation, menacing, and criminal contempt. Specifically, the bill creates a new first-degree aggravated harassment offense for individuals who commit second-degree aggravated harassment against a member of the same household and have a prior conviction within ten years. The legislation also expands assault in the second degree to include cases where the offender has a previous conviction for a wide range of violent crimes and is a member of the same household as the victim. Additionally, the bill increases the severity of certain criminal offenses from class E to class D or C felonies, extends the lookback period for prior convictions from five to ten years in some cases, and introduces a new $250 domestic violence victim assistance fee to support training for law enforcement in domestic violence issues. The bill also requires courts to consider factors such as prior violence, existing protective orders, and firearm possession when determining bail or recognizance for defendants charged with crimes against family or household members.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3453