Bill > S04677

This bill expands the definition of "victim" for crime victim assistance funds to include individuals who die from an overdose under specific circumstances. Specifically, the bill allows victims' families to receive assistance if the overdose resulted from deception, surreptitious (secret) delivery, or third-party administration of a controlled substance. The bill defines "deception" broadly, including situations where a third party sells or delivers a substance without fully disclosing its complete composition. It modifies existing executive law to remove certain drug-related offenses (specifically those in article two hundred twenty of the penal law) from being automatically excluded from "specified crime" status, but creates a new exception that allows victims' families to seek assistance if the overdose meets the criteria of involving death, deception, or unauthorized substance administration. This change aims to provide support for families of overdose victims who have been deliberately misled or unknowingly given dangerous substances, recognizing the traumatic nature of such deaths and offering potential financial assistance through the crime victim assistance program.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4677