Bill > A06230

This bill significantly strengthens legal protections for children by creating new, more severe criminal offenses related to sexual crimes against children under 12 or 14 years old. Specifically, the bill introduces new felony classifications for rape of a child, criminal sexual acts against a child, aggravated sexual abuse of a child, and aggravated course of sexual conduct against a child, all of which are classified as class A-I felonies when committed by a person 21 years or older. The bill modifies existing penal law to remove references to sexual offenses against children under 11 years old and replaces them with more comprehensive provisions targeting children under 12 or 14 years old. It also updates sentencing guidelines to mandate a minimum 20-year sentence for these specific sexual offenses against children and expands the definition of murder in the second degree to include cases where a defendant intentionally causes the death of a child during the commission of these sexual crimes. Additionally, the bill updates language throughout the legal code to be more gender-neutral and precise, replacing phrases like "he or she" with "such person" or "the actor". The legislation is designed to provide stronger legal consequences for perpetrators of sexual crimes against children and to offer more comprehensive protection for victims.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6230