Bill > A04899

This bill mandates that law enforcement officers conducting a domestic violence incident report must also complete a "lethality assessment," which involves asking specific questions designed to gauge the risk of serious harm to a victim. This lethality assessment is to be incorporated into the standardized domestic incident report form, and by January 1, 2027, the form will be updated, and training on administering the assessment will be developed and delivered by the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. All law enforcement officers must complete this training by January 1, 2028, and it will be included in training for new officers thereafter. The bill outlines a series of questions officers must ask victims, and based on the responses, officers are required to refer victims to local domestic violence programs, provide hotline numbers, and potentially share the report with relevant agencies or high-risk teams. If the assessment indicates a credible risk of serious harm, officers may be required to file for an extreme risk protection order. If a victim cannot provide information for the assessment, the officer must note this and still attempt to refer the victim to resources. The bill also makes conforming changes to existing laws regarding domestic violence reporting and the use of domestic incident reports in certain contract termination scenarios.

Government Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4899