Bill > A03971

This bill amends New York's Public Officers Law to expand restrictions on individuals convicted of certain felonies from holding civil office. The bill broadens the existing prohibitions to include felonies committed through or in connection with a person's civil office, specifically adding felonies under certain sections of the New York Penal Law and federal criminal codes. The law now disqualifies individuals from holding civil office for ten years following the completion of their sentence for felonies related to their official position. For misdemeanors in specific penal law articles, the ban is five years after sentence completion, with the possibility of extending to ten years if the misdemeanor was part of a plea agreement for a more serious offense. Importantly, the bill clarifies that obtaining a certificate of relief from disabilities or a certificate of good conduct will not lift these disqualifications. The legislation applies retroactively to convictions entered before, on, or after the bill's effective date, and includes a standard severability clause ensuring that if any part of the act is found unconstitutional, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3971