BILL NUMBER:  S1445

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the election law, in relation to
authorizing registration records of victims of sexual violence to be
kept confidential in certain cases

 PURPOSE :

This bill allows victims of sexual violence protection against their
attacker by enabling them to have their voter records sealed. The
victim is able to do this by petitioning the supreme court for the
county where the victim is registered, who may then issue an order
requiring confidentiality of the records.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section One amends section 5-508 of the election law, adding paragraph
(c) to define "victim of sexual violence" as any person who is a
victim of any offense under article one hundred thirty of the penal
law.

Section Two amends subdivision 3 of section 5-508 of the election law
to allow victims of domestic violence to apply to the supreme court in
the county where the victim is registered to vote. The court may then
issue an order that the victim's registration file be kept separate
and not be available for inspection or copying, except by an election
              

official when pertinent and necessary in connection with their
official duties. This section also adds a new subdivision 3 to allow
the same protection to victims of sexual violence.

Section Three is the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Under current law, victims of domestic violence may petition the
supreme court to have their voter records sealed. Upon receipt of this
application, the court may issue an order that the victim's
information will be kept separate from the records which are available
for public inspection.

This bill extends that protection to victims of sexual violence to
whom anonymity is not currently provided. It is equally important for
victims of these heinous crimes to be protected from their attackers,
and this legislation closes the gap in the current law to allow sexual
violence victims the same protection as victims of domestic violence
so that they too can feel secure in registering to vote.   LEGISLATIVE
HISTORY :

S.3131/A.5563 of 2015-2016; Passed Senate
S.1685/A.8902 of 2014-2015; Passed Senate
S.4073B of 2011-2012; Passed Senate
S.7424B/A.11014A of 2010; Passed Senate

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,
amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the
implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be
made on or before such date.