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A02142 Summary:
BILL NO | A02142 |
  | |
SAME AS | SAME AS S03809 |
  | |
SPONSOR | Peoples-Stokes |
  | |
COSPNSR | Crespo, Zebrowski, Barron, Blake, Jaffee, De La Rosa, Rosenthal L, Hyndman, Jean-Pierre, Mosley, Sepulveda, Taylor, Walker, Lupardo, Simon, Wright, Espinal |
  | |
MLTSPNSR | Ramos |
  | |
Amd §221.05, Pen L; amd §160.50, CP L | |
  | |
Relates to sealing records for certain proceedings that terminate in favor of the accused where the charges relate to the possession of marihuana. |
A02142 Actions:
BILL NO | A02142 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/17/2017 | referred to codes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/30/2017 | reported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/02/2017 | advanced to third reading cal.33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/14/2017 | passed assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/14/2017 | delivered to senate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/14/2017 | REFERRED TO CODES | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/03/2018 | DIED IN SENATE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/03/2018 | RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/03/2018 | ordered to third reading cal.158 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/06/2018 | passed assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/06/2018 | delivered to senate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/06/2018 | REFERRED TO RULES |
A02142 Floor Votes:
Yes
Abbate
ER
Crouch
No
Goodell
Yes
Lifton
Yes
O'Donnell
ER
Simanowitz
Yes
Abinanti
ER
Curran
Yes
Gottfried
No
Lopez
Yes
Ortiz
Yes
Simon
Yes
Arroyo
No
Cusick
No
Graf
Yes
Lupardo
Yes
Otis
Yes
Simotas
Yes
Aubry
ER
Cymbrowitz
Yes
Gunther
No
Lupinacci
No
Palmesano
Yes
Skartados
No
Barclay
ER
Davila
Yes
Harris
ER
Magee
No
Palumbo
Yes
Skoufis
Yes
Barnwell
Yes
De La Rosa
No
Hawley
Yes
Magnarelli
Yes
Paulin
Yes
Solages
Yes
Barrett
Yes
DenDekker
Yes
Hevesi
No
Malliotakis
Yes
Peoples-Stokes
No
Stec
Yes
Barron
Yes
Dickens
ER
Hikind
Yes
Mayer
Yes
Perry
Yes
Steck
Yes
Benedetto
Yes
Dilan
Yes
Hooper
Yes
McDonald
Yes
Pheffer Amato
Yes
Stirpe
Yes
Bichotte
Yes
Dinowitz
Yes
Hunter
No
McDonough
Yes
Pichardo
Yes
Thiele
Yes
Blake
ER
DiPietro
Yes
Hyndman
No
McKevitt
Yes
Pretlow
Yes
Titone
ER
Blankenbush
Yes
D'Urso
Yes
Jaffee
No
McLaughlin
Yes
Quart
Yes
Titus
No
Brabenec
Yes
Englebright
Yes
Jean-Pierre
No
Miller B
No
Ra
Yes
Vanel
Yes
Braunstein
No
Errigo
Yes
Jenne
Yes
Miller MG
No
Raia
Yes
Walker
Yes
Brindisi
Yes
Fahy
Yes
Johns
No
Miller ML
ER
Ramos
Yes
Wallace
Yes
Bronson
Yes
Farrell
Yes
Jones
No
Montesano
Yes
Richardson
No
Walsh
Yes
Buchwald
No
Finch
Yes
Joyner
Yes
Morelle
Yes
Rivera
No
Walter
No
Butler
No
Fitzpatrick
Yes
Kavanagh
Yes
Morinello
Yes
Rodriguez
Yes
Weinstein
No
Byrne
No
Friend
No
Kearns
Yes
Mosley
ER
Rosenthal
Yes
Weprin
Yes
Cahill
Yes
Galef
Yes
Kim
ER
Moya
Yes
Rozic
ER
Williams
Yes
Carroll
Yes
Gantt
No
Kolb
No
Murray
Yes
Ryan
Yes
Woerner
No
Castorina
No
Garbarino
No
Lalor
Yes
Niou
ER
Santabarbara
Yes
Wright
Yes
Colton
No
Giglio
Yes
Lavine
Yes
Nolan
No
Schimminger
Yes
Zebrowski
Yes
Cook
Yes
Gjonaj
ER
Lawrence
No
Norris
Yes
Seawright
Yes
Mr. Speaker
Yes
Crespo
ER
Glick
Yes
Lentol
No
Oaks
Yes
Sepulveda
‡ Indicates voting via videoconference
Yes
Abbate
Yes
Cook
No
Garbarino
Yes
Lupardo
Yes
Pellegrino
No
Stec
Yes
Abinanti
Yes
Crespo
No
Giglio
Yes
Magee
Yes
Peoples-Stokes
Yes
Steck
ER
Arroyo
No
Crouch
Yes
Glick
Yes
Magnarelli
Yes
Perry
Yes
Stern
No
Ashby
No
Curran
No
Goodell
No
Malliotakis
Yes
Pheffer Amato
Yes
Stirpe
Yes
Aubry
No
Cusick
Yes
Gottfried
Yes
McDonald
Yes
Pichardo
No
Tague
No
Barclay
Yes
Cymbrowitz
Yes
Gunther
No
McDonough
Yes
Pretlow
Yes
Taylor
Yes
Barnwell
Yes
Davila
No
Hawley
No
Mikulin
Yes
Quart
Yes
Thiele
Yes
Barrett
Yes
De La Rosa
Yes
Hevesi
No
Miller B
No
Ra
Yes
Titone
Yes
Barron
Yes
DenDekker
Yes
Hikind
Yes
Miller MG
No
Raia
Yes
Titus
Yes
Benedetto
Yes
Dickens
Yes
Hooper
ER
Miller ML
Yes
Ramos
Yes
Vanel
Yes
Bichotte
Yes
Dilan
Yes
Hunter
No
Montesano
ER
Richardson
Yes
Walker
Yes
Blake
Yes
Dinowitz
Yes
Hyndman
Yes
Morelle
ER
Rivera
Yes
Wallace
No
Blankenbush
No
DiPietro
ER
Jaffee
Yes
Morinello
Yes
Rodriguez
No
Walsh
Yes
Bohen
Yes
D'Urso
Yes
Jean-Pierre
Yes
Mosley
Yes
Rosenthal D
No
Walter
No
Brabenec
Yes
Englebright
Yes
Jenne
No
Murray
Yes
Rosenthal L
Yes
Weinstein
Yes
Braunstein
Yes
Epstein
Yes
Johns
Yes
Niou
Yes
Rozic
Yes
Weprin
Yes
Brindisi
No
Errigo
Yes
Jones
Yes
Nolan
Yes
Ryan
Yes
Williams
Yes
Bronson
Yes
Espinal
Yes
Joyner
No
Norris
No
Santabarbara
Yes
Woerner
Yes
Buchwald
Yes
Fahy
Yes
Kim
No
Oaks
No
Schimminger
Yes
Wright
No
Butler
Yes
Fernandez
No
Kolb
Yes
O'Donnell
Yes
Seawright
ER
Zebrowski
No
Byrne
No
Finch
No
Lalor
Yes
Ortiz
Yes
Simon
Yes
Mr. Speaker
Yes
Cahill
No
Fitzpatrick
Yes
Lavine
Yes
Otis
Yes
Simotas
Yes
Carroll
No
Friend
No
Lawrence
No
Palmesano
Yes
Skoufis
No
Castorina
Yes
Galef
Yes
Lentol
No
Palumbo
No
Smith
Yes
Colton
ER
Gantt
Yes
Lifton
Yes
Paulin
Yes
Solages
‡ Indicates voting via videoconference
A02142 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)   BILL NUMBER: A2142 SPONSOR: Peoples-Stokes
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the penal law and the criminal procedure law, in relation to sealing records for certain proceedings   PURPOSE: To permit the sealing of certain marijuana-possession convictions under section 221.10 of the Penal Law.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 of the bill amends section 221.05 of the Penal Law, New York's basic possession of marijuana statute. It provides that a previous conviction under subdivision one of section 221.10 of the penal law shall not result in an increase in the maximum fine for a subsequent conviction under PL § 221.05, the basic marijuana statute. Subdivision one of PL § 221.10 prohibits knowingly and unlawfully possessing in a public place marijuana that is burning or open to public view. Section 2 of the bill adds 221.10 of the Penal Law to the list of offenses included in paragraph (k) of subdivision 3 for which sealing of records is required upon conviction. Further, it prohibits a waiver of sealing as part of a plea agreement. Section 3 of the bill makes retroactive certain aspects of this bill by providing a mechanism for persons convicted under 221.10, and in certain circumstances 221.05, prior to the effective date of the bill, to have those records sealed.   JUSTIFICATION: Under New York law, possession of 25 grams of marijuana or less is a violation, treated under PL 221.05 as essentially a traffic offense. However, often individuals possessing a small amount of marijuana are charged with a misdemeanor offense under section 221.10 of the penal law. This is largely due the requirement in current law that the mari- juana not be burning in a public place or in public view. It has been widely reported that police officers sometimes request or demand that suspects empty their pockets or purse-- and then charge them under the misdemeanor law based on "public view" exposure of the substance"* Many of the cases brought under § 221.10 (1), charging small-quantity possession of marijuana in a public place and open to public view, could be handled effectively with an appearance ticket and a potential fine, and without the stigma and consequences that may follow a misdemeanor level conviction. However, instead of achieving decriminalization of marijuana, as was intended in the 1977 statute, individuals throughout New York are still facing misdemeanor prosecution for the simple possession of a small amount of marijuana. In 2014, nearly 28,000 arrests were made in New York City and nearly 4,000 outside of NYC for possession of marijuana, an average of 2,339 per month.** A permanent criminal record is the most enduring and long lasting cost of these arrests. Records of arrests and convictions are now are readily accessible to the public. Employers, landlords, credit agencies, licensing boards, and student loan providers routinely search databases for background checks on applicants. Nurses, security guards, home health aides and others licensed by the state may be at risk of losing their licenses and jobs based on one misdemeanor conviction. For the immigrant population, such a conviction may, depending on the circumstances, result in deportation from the United States. Landlords and public housing authorities may seek to evict a person as a result of such a conviction. While an individual misdemeanor conviction for possession of marijuana often does not result in jail time, such a conviction may have the effect of exposing an individual to significant legal difficulties and a lifetime of collateral consequences. Furthermore, these effects are disproportionately felt in New York's African American and Latino communities. According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, 50.47 percent of those arrested for possession of marijuana in 2015 were African American, and 38.18 percent of the persons arrested were Latino.*** While studies show that white persons use marijuana at comparable rates, only 8 percent of those arrested for possession of marijuana are white. **** Thus, the crippling consequences of such an arrest or conviction mainly impact only the minority segment of our population. This bill is necessary not only to limit the stigma and collateral consequences associated with a conviction for basic marijuana possession, behavior the Legislature has already sought to decriminal- ize, but also to address the rampant disparity that exists regarding the implementation and effect of these laws.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: A.10092 of 2015/2016   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Minimal.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it has become law. *See People v Johnson, 2016 N.Y. Misc. LEX1S 629, 2016 NY Slip Op 26057 (N.Y. City Crim. Ct. Mar. 2, 2016) **New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Ages 16 and older. All arrests where marijuana possession was the only or highest charge. 1-Itt://marijuana-arrests.com/ May 2014. *** Victoria Bekiempis (June 12, 2015), Whites Account for 8% of NY Marijuana Arrests. Newsweek. Online Edition. **** Id.
A02142 Text:
Go to top STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2142 2017-2018 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 17, 2017 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. PEOPLES-STOKES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the penal law and the criminal procedure law, in relation to sealing records for certain proceedings The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 221.05 of the penal law, as added by chapter 360 of 2 the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows: 3 § 221.05 Unlawful possession of marihuana. 4 A person is guilty of unlawful possession of marihuana when he know- 5 ingly and unlawfully possesses marihuana. 6 Unlawful possession of marihuana is a violation punishable only by a 7 fine of not more than one hundred dollars. However, where the defendant 8 has previously been convicted of [an offense] a crime defined in this 9 article, except a crime defined in section 221.10 of this article 10 provided, however, that the record of such conviction does not demon- 11 strate a conviction under subdivision two of such section 221.10, or 12 article 220 of this chapter, committed within the three years immediate- 13 ly preceding such violation, it shall be punishable (a) only by a fine 14 of not more than two hundred dollars, if the defendant was previously 15 convicted of one such offense committed during such period, and (b) by a 16 fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars or a term of imprison- 17 ment not in excess of fifteen days or both, if the defendant was previ- 18 ously convicted of two such offenses committed during such period. 19 § 2. Paragraph (k) of subdivision 3 of section 160.50 of the criminal 20 procedure law, as added by chapter 835 of the laws of 1977 and as relet- 21 tered by chapter 192 of the laws of 1980, is amended to read as follows: 22 (k) (i) The accusatory instrument alleged a violation of article two 23 hundred twenty or section 240.36 of the penal law, prior to the taking 24 effect of article two hundred twenty-one of the penal law, or a 25 violation of article two hundred twenty-one of the penal law; (ii) the 26 sole controlled substance involved is marijuana; and (iii) the 27 conviction was only for a violation or violations[; and (iv) at least28three years have passed since the offense occurred] of section 221.10 of EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD05532-01-7A. 2142 2 1 the penal law provided, however, that the record of such conviction does 2 not demonstrate a conviction under subdivision two of such section 3 221.10, or for a petty offense or offenses. No defendant shall be 4 required or permitted to waive eligibility for sealing pursuant to this 5 paragraph as part of a plea of guilty, sentence or any agreement related 6 to a conviction for a violation of section 221.05 or section 221.10 of 7 the penal law and any such waiver shall be deemed void and wholly unen- 8 forceable. 9 § 3. Section 160.50 of the criminal procedure law is amended by adding 10 three new subdivisions 5, 6 and 7 to read as follows: 11 5. A person convicted of a violation of section 221.10 of the penal 12 law, other than a conviction after trial of, or plea of guilty to, 13 subdivision two of such section 221.10, prior to the effective date of 14 this subdivision may upon motion apply to the court in which such termi- 15 nation occurred, upon not less than twenty days notice to the district 16 attorney, for an order granting to such person the relief set forth in 17 subdivision one of this section, and such order shall be granted unless 18 the district attorney demonstrates that the interests of justice require 19 otherwise. 20 6. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law except as provided 21 in paragraph (d) of subdivision one of this section and paragraph (e) of 22 subdivision four of section eight hundred thirty-seven of the executive 23 law: (i) when the division of criminal justice services conducts a 24 search of its criminal history records, maintained pursuant to subdivi- 25 sion six of section eight hundred thirty-seven of the executive law, and 26 returns a report thereon, all references to a conviction for a violation 27 of section 221.10 of the penal law, other than a conviction after trial 28 of, or plea of guilty to, subdivision two of such section 221.10, shall 29 be excluded from such report; and (ii) the chief administrator of the 30 courts shall develop and promulgate rules as may be necessary to ensure 31 that no written or electronic report of a criminal history record search 32 conducted by the office of court administration contains information 33 relating to a conviction for a violation of section 221.10 of the penal 34 law, other than a conviction after trial of, or plea of guilty to, 35 subdivision two of such section 221.10, unless such search is conducted 36 solely for a bona fide research purpose, provided that such information, 37 if so disseminated, shall be disseminated in accordance with procedures 38 established by the chief administrator of the courts to assure the secu- 39 rity and privacy of identification and information data, which shall 40 include the execution of an agreement which protects the confidentiality 41 of the information and reasonably protects against data linkage to indi- 42 viduals. 43 (b) Nothing contained in this subdivision shall be deemed to permit or 44 require the release, disclosure or other dissemination by the division 45 of criminal justice services or the office of court administration of 46 criminal history record information that has been sealed in accordance 47 with law. 48 7. A person convicted of a violation of section 221.05 of the penal 49 law shall, on the effective date of this subdivision, have such 50 conviction immediately sealed pursuant to subdivision one of this 51 section if such conviction occurred less than three years prior to such 52 effective date. 53 § 4. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall 54 have become a law.