Bill > S07464

This bill repeals Section 260.15 of the New York Penal Law, which currently provides affirmative defenses to the criminal charge of endangering the welfare of a child. An affirmative defense is a legal strategy where a defendant admits to the basic facts of a charge but offers a legally recognized justification or excuse that could potentially eliminate criminal liability. By completely removing this section of the law, the bill eliminates specific legal protections or justifications that defendants could previously use when facing charges of child endangerment. The practical effect is that individuals charged with endangering the welfare of a child will no longer have these predefined statutory defenses available to them in court, potentially making such prosecutions easier and narrowing the legal strategies defendants can use to contest such charges. The bill is straightforward in its approach, with an immediate effective date upon passage, signaling the legislature's intent to swiftly change the legal landscape around this specific criminal statute.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7464