BILL NUMBER: S3118
SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to expanding the offense of
assault in the second degree to include the infliction of physical inju-
ry to employees of domestic violence shelters and persons seeking shel-
ter in such shelters
 
PURPOSE:
Provides expanded protections to employees of domestic violence shelters
and on those seeking shelter in such domestic violence shelters.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: add a new subdivision 3-d to Section 120.05 of the Penal Law
Section 2: Provides an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Current law provides added protections to various types of employees
including police officers, firefighters, medical personnel, as well as
employees of local social service districts who are directly involved in
abuse and neglect investigations related to children, vulnerable elderly
people and incompetent or physically disabled people. This bill would
expand those protections to include employees of domestic violence shel-
ters and well as those seeking shelter themselves making crimes against
them to be considered assault in the second degree. At a time when
domestic violence victims are extremely vulnerable, these extra
protections are needed.
Additionally, those seeking shelter have not been the only ones at risk.
There have also been instances in domestic violence cases where the
abuser cannot get to the victim and will instead attack an employee of a
shelter as a way to send a message. This bill would add protections for
these employees as well.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.2550 referred to Codes
2021-2022: S.2580 referred to Codes
2019-2020: S.172 referred to Codes
2017-2018: S.4311 passed Senate/A.8731 referred to Codes
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of November after it shall have
become a law.

Statutes affected:
S3118: 120.05 penal law