BILL NUMBER: S7337
SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to law enforcement offi-
cer grant funds (Part A); to amend the criminal procedure law, in
relation to providing judges more discretion regarding securing orders
and limiting the lengths of certain orders; and to repeal certain
provisions of the criminal procedure law, the judiciary law and the
executive law relating thereto (Part B); to amend the criminal procedure
law, in relation to requiring affirmative consent for the disclosure of
contact information of witnesses to a defendant (Part C); and to amend
the criminal procedure law, in relation to consideration of the death
penalty for the commission of certain provisions of murder in the first
degree (Part D)
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to provide local governments and their
corresponding police agencies with the financial support they need to
hire and retain police officers in order to maintain safety and public
order. The bill also repeals the disastrous changes to the state's bail
laws from 2019, protects witnesses to a crime by allowing for affirma-
tive consent of their contact information, and provides for the possi-
bility of the death penalty as a punishment when an individual is
convicted of murder in the death of a police officer.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 makes changes to various sections of law in the following
manner:
Part A: Allocates $100 million each year for three years ($300 million
total) to provide grants that local governments and police agencies may
apply for in order to increase safety in their communities. $80 million
each year will be allocated for the hiring or re-hiring of police offi-
cers, hiring members of the armed forces to serve as law enforcement
officers in crime prevention, and supporting non-hiring initiatives,
such as training law enforcement officers in crime prevention, communi-
ty-policing techniques, and developing technologies that support crime
prevention strategies. Law enforcement agencies are eligible for up to
90% of the costs associated with such hiring or non-hiring initiatives;
provided, however, that the law enforcement agency commits to employing
such officers for at least five years, retaining such officers for at
least two additional years after the three years of grant funding
expires. $20 million per year will be allocated to support the purchase
of equipment, not including the purchase or maintenance of police cruis-
ers.
Part B: Repeals the changes made to the state's bail laws in 2019,
providing for judicial discretion in the setting of bail; taking into
account a defendant's risk of flight to avoid prosecution; a defendant's
prior criminal history; a defendant's risk of failing to appear in
court; and the dangerousness a defendant poses to other individuals or
the community.
Part C: Provides that law enforcement personnel conducting the initial
interview of someone who has evidence or information relevant to an
offense for which someone will be charged with a crime must request
whether or not such witness is comfortable with their personal informa-
tion being disclosed to the defense. A witness must provide a justifica-
tion for why they do not wish to have their information shared with the
defense.
Part D: Allows for the use of the death penalty in cases where an indi-
vidual has been convicted in the murder of a police officer.
Section 2 outlines the severability clause. Section 3 marks the effec-
tive date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York has seen a significant increase in crime over the last couple
of years. One of the main causes of this epidemic is the disastrous
changes made to the state's bail and discovery laws in 2019. This bill
would repeal the disastrous changes that have led to the state's
increase in crime, and would make witnesses to crimes safer by protect-
ing their contact information, preventing witness intimidation efforts.
The bill would also support local governments, their police agencies and
police officers by creating a state grant fund to allocate $300 million
over the next three years ($100 million per year) to be utilized for the
hiring, rehiring and training of police officers. Additionally, the
fund would authorize the purchase of law enforcement equipment, not
including the purchase or maintenance of police cruisers. This legis-
lation further supports law enforcement by making the murder of a police
officer eligible for the death penalty.
Investing in our law enforcement financially and morally, as well as
ending the disastrous policies imposed on the people of the state in
2019, will create a safer environment for all New Yorkers. It will put
the safety of New Yorkers back in the hands of law enforcement and
prevent criminals from controlling our communities.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24-S.1830/A2193 - Codes Committee/Codes Committee
2022- S. 8720/A.10077 - Codes Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
$300 million over the next three years.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately provided, however, that the
applicable effective date of Parts A through D of this act shall be as
specifically set forth in the last section of such parts.

Statutes affected:
S7337: 150.10 criminal procedure law, 150.10(3) criminal procedure law, 1.20 criminal procedure law, 1.20(1) criminal procedure law, 150.40 criminal procedure law, 150.40(1) criminal procedure law, 150.50 criminal procedure law, 150.50(1) criminal procedure law, 150.80 criminal procedure law, 510.50 criminal procedure law, 520.10 criminal procedure law, 520.10(2) criminal procedure law, 530.10 criminal procedure law, 530.11 criminal procedure law, 530.11(4) criminal procedure law, 530.12 criminal procedure law, 530.12(11) criminal procedure law, 530.13 criminal procedure law, 530.13(1) criminal procedure law, 530.13(8) criminal procedure law, 530.20 criminal procedure law, 530.40 criminal procedure law, 530.45 criminal procedure law, 530.45(1) criminal procedure law, 530.45(2-a) criminal procedure law, 216.05 criminal procedure law, 216.05(9) criminal procedure law, 410.60 criminal procedure law, 620.50 criminal procedure law, 620.50(3) criminal procedure law, 216 judiciary law, 216(5) judiciary law, 837-u executive law, 245.20 criminal procedure law, 245.20(1) criminal procedure law