S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8432
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
June 20, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PEOPLES-STOKES -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to vacating
records for certain proceedings; and to repeal certain provisions of
such law relating thereto
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (k) of subdivision 1 of section 440.10 of the
criminal procedure law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2019,
amending the penal law and the criminal procedure law relating to vacat-
ing records for certain proceedings, as proposed in legislative bills
numbers S. 6579-A and A. 8420-A, is REPEALED and a new paragraph (k) is
added to read as follows:
(K) THE JUDGMENT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARA-
GRAPH AND IS A CONVICTION FOR AN OFFENSE AS DEFINED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I)
OR (II) OF PARAGRAPH (K) OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION 160.50 OF THIS
PART, IN WHICH CASE THE COURT SHALL PRESUME THAT A CONVICTION BY PLEA
FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED OFFENSES WAS NOT KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND INTELLI-
GENT IF IT HAS SEVERE OR ONGOING CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES, AND SHALL PRESUME THAT
A CONVICTION BY VERDICT FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED OFFENSES CONSTITUTES
CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT UNDER SECTION FIVE OF ARTICLE ONE OF THE
STATE CONSTITUTION, BASED ON THOSE CONSEQUENCES. THE PEOPLE MAY REBUT
THESE PRESUMPTIONS.
§ 2. Paragraph (k) of subdivision 3 of section 160.50 of the criminal
procedure law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the
penal law and the criminal procedure law relating to vacating records
for certain proceedings, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.
6579-A and A. 8420-A, is amended to read as follows:
(k) (I) The [accusatory instrument alleged] CONVICTION WAS FOR a
violation of[:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13421-10-9
A. 8432 2
(i)] article two hundred twenty or section 240.36 of the penal law
prior to the effective date of article two hundred twenty-one of the
penal law, and the sole controlled substance involved was marihuana and
the conviction was only for a violation or violations; or
(ii) THE CONVICTION IS FOR AN OFFENSE DEFINED IN section 221.05 or
221.10 of the penal law prior to the effective date of the chapter of
THE laws of two thousand nineteen that amended this [section] PARAGRAPH;
or
(iii) THE CONVICTION IS FOR AN OFFENSE DEFINED IN section 221.05 or
221.10 of the penal law.
No defendant shall be required or permitted to waive eligibility for
sealing OR EXPUNGEMENT pursuant to this [paragraph] SECTION as part of a
plea of guilty, sentence or any agreement related to a conviction for a
violation of section 221.05 or section 221.10 of the penal law and any
such waiver shall be deemed void and wholly unenforceable.
§ 3. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section 160.50 of the criminal
procedure law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the
penal law and the criminal procedure law relating to vacating records
for certain proceedings, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.
6579-A and A. 8420-A, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Expungement of certain marihuana-related records. [Where an accu-
satory instrument alleged] A CONVICTION FOR an offense described in
paragraph (k) of subdivision three of this section[, such count or
counts of the accusatory instrument in such criminal action or proceed-
ing] shall, on AND AFTER the effective date of this paragraph, in
accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, be vacated and
dismissed, and all records of such [count or counts] CONVICTION OR
CONVICTIONS and[, in the absence of any other valid count or counts, all
records of such action or proceeding] RELATED TO SUCH CONVICTION OR
CONVICTIONS shall be expunged, as described in subdivision forty-five of
section 1.20 of this chapter, and the matter shall be considered termi-
nated in favor of the accused and deemed a nullity, having been rendered
by this paragraph legally invalid. ALL SUCH RECORDS FOR AN OFFENSE
DESCRIBED IN THIS PARAGRAPH WHERE THE CONVICTION WAS ENTERED ON OR
BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CHAPTER OF THE LAWS OF 2019 THAT
AMENDED THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE EXPUNGED PROMPTLY AND, IN ANY EVENT, NO
LATER THAN ONE YEAR AFTER SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE.
§ 4. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 5 of section
160.50 of the criminal procedure law, as added by a chapter of the laws
of 2019, amending the penal law and the criminal procedure law relating
to vacating records for certain proceedings, as proposed in legislative
bills numbers S. 6579-A and A. 8420-A, is amended to read as follows:
(i) the chief administrator of the courts shall promptly notify the
commissioner of the division of criminal justice services and the heads
of all appropriate police departments, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICES and
other law enforcement agencies of all [counts] CONVICTIONS that have
been vacated and dismissed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision
and that[, in the absence of any other valid count or counts,] all
records [of such action or proceeding] RELATED TO SUCH CONVICTIONS shall
be expunged and the matter shall be considered terminated in favor of
the accused and deemed a nullity, having been rendered legally invalid.
Upon receipt of notification of such vacatur, dismissal and expungement,
all records relating to such [count or counts] CONVICTION OR
CONVICTIONS, or the criminal action or proceeding, as the case may be,
shall be marked as expunged by conspicuously indicating on the face of
the record and on each page or at the beginning of the digitized file of
A. 8432 3
the record that the record has been designated as expunged. Upon the
written request of the individual whose case has been expunged or their
designated agent, such records shall be destroyed. Such records and
papers shall not be made available to any person, except the individual
whose case has been expunged or such person's designated agent; and
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
manner as a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the penal law and the
criminal procedure law relating to vacating records for certain
proceedings, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 6579-A and A.
8420-A, takes effect.