BILL NUMBER: S1980
SPONSOR: MURRAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the
sale or promotional distribution of machetes to minors
 
PURPOSE:
To prohibit businesses from selling machetes to minors.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends Section 399-qq of the general business law. Subdivi-
sion 1 Prohibits any person, firm, or corporation to sell or offer to
sell or give away as either a retail or wholesale promotion a machete to
any person under eighteen years of age.
Subdivision two defines the term "machete" means a large heavy knife
with a broad blade, used primarily for cutting brush or vegetation.
Subdivision three excludes, from the provisions of this section, the
temporary transfer of a machete to a person under eighteen years of age
where such device is possessed only on the employer's premises and only
during the course and scope of such person's employment.
Subdivision four authorizes any county, city, town, or village to enact
and enforce additional local laws, ordinances, or codes that are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this section.
Subdivision five establishes a civil penalty of no more than five
hundred dollars to any person, firm, or corporation who violates the
provisions of this section
Section 2 provides effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In recent years, the number of violent assaults between and among gangs
have increased in the State of New York. In many of these attacks,
machetes have been the weapon of choice. By prohibiting sale to minors,
this bill seeks to reduce accessibility of this dangerous weapon.
Currently under New York State law, it is illegal for a minor to possess
a machete with intent to use as a weapon; however, it is still legal for
businesses to sell machetes to minors. This bill would expand the list
of items prohibited to sell to minors to include machetes.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S.4979 - Referred to Consumer Protection
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.

Statutes affected:
S1980: 399-qq general business law