S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9861
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 20, 2020
___________
Introduced by M. of A. QUART -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Codes
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to creating the
conviction review commission and providing for such commission's
powers and duties
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 13-B
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 13-B
CONVICTION REVIEW COMMISSION
SECTION 268. DEFINITION.
268-A. CONVICTION REVIEW COMMISSION.
268-B. PURPOSE AND CONDUCT OF THE COMMISSION.
268-C. POWERS AND DUTIES.
268-D. USE OF INFORMATION.
§ 268. DEFINITION. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, "COMMISSION" SHALL MEAN
THE CONVICTION REVIEW COMMISSION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO
HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT-A OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 268-A. CONVICTION REVIEW COMMISSION. 1. THE CONVICTION REVIEW
COMMISSION IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED AS AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY OF THE STATE.
A. THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIST OF FIVE MEMBERS AS FOLLOWS:
(I) THREE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR;
(II) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE;
AND
(III) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
B. THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL INCLUDE COMMUNITY ADVO-
CATES AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WHO ARE WIDELY KNOWN FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL
COMPETENCE AND EXPERIENCE WITH CRIMINAL DEFENSE, WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS,
OR DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF FORENSIC SCIENCE, AND AT LEAST ONE OF
WHOM IS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY IN GOOD STANDING WITH EXPERIENCE FILING
MOTIONS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE FOUR HUNDRED FORTY OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
LAW.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03236-04-0
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2. THE TERM OF OFFICE OF EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL
BE FIVE YEARS. EVERY VACANCY OCCURRING PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF A
MEMBER'S TERM SHALL BE FILLED FOR THE REMAINDER OF SUCH TERM IN THE
MANNER PROVIDED FOR THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT TO SUCH TERM. UPON THE
EXPIRATION OF THE TERM OF A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION, SUCH MEMBER SHALL
CONTINUE TO SERVE UNTIL HIS OR HER SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED.
3. THE GOVERNOR SHALL DESIGNATE A CHAIRPERSON FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMISSION, TO SERVE AS SUCH AT THE PLEASURE OF THE GOVERNOR. THE CHAIR-
PERSON SHALL BE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE COMMISSION.
4. THE CHAIRPERSON SHALL RECEIVE COMPENSATION FIXED BY THE GOVERNOR
AND SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL EXPENSES ACTUALLY AND NECESSARILY
INCURRED BY HIM OR HER IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES HERE-
UNDER, WITHIN THE AMOUNT MADE AVAILABLE BY APPROPRIATION THEREFOR. THE
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR
SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL EXPENSES ACTUALLY AND NECES-
SARILY INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES HEREUNDER WITHIN THE
AMOUNT MADE AVAILABLE BY APPROPRIATION THEREFOR.
5. THE COMMISSION SHALL MEET AT LEAST FOUR TIMES EACH YEAR AT PREDE-
TERMINED TIMES AND LOCATIONS ANNOUNCED IN ADVANCE, AND AT SUCH OTHER
TIMES AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION OR THREE OR MORE MEMBERS SHALL
DETERMINE TO BE NECESSARY.
6. FOR ANY ACTION AUTHORIZED BY THIS ARTICLE, THREE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMISSION SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM AND, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED
IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION, THE CONCURRENCE OF AT LEAST THREE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE NECESSARY.
7. NO MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING ANY
PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, NOR SHALL HE OR SHE FORFEIT ANY SUCH OFFICE
OR EMPLOYMENT, BY REASON OF HIS OR HER APPOINTMENT PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE AND
FILE OATHS OF OFFICE BEFORE SERVING ON THE COMMISSION.
§ 268-B. PURPOSE AND CONDUCT OF THE COMMISSION. 1. THE COMMISSION
SHALL REVIEW CASES INVOLVING A WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND SHALL BE AUTHOR-
IZED TO REINVESTIGATE SUCH CASES, RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS IN FORENSIC
SCIENCE, RECOMMEND CASES AND CATEGORIES OF CASES FOR REINVESTIGATION,
AND RECOMMEND REFORMS TO LESSEN THE LIKELIHOOD OF SIMILAR WRONGFUL
CONVICTIONS OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE.
2. THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTABLISH A CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT WHICH SHALL
CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS:
A. THE INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT, WHICH SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INVES-
TIGATING ALL MATTERS BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION'S ATTENTION BY THE FORMAL
FILING OR APPLICATION PROCESS SET FORTH BY THE COMMISSION; AND
B. THE RESEARCH DEPARTMENT, WHICH SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING
DATA PERTAINING TO THE WORK OF THE CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT, MONITORING
THE MOST RECENT RESEARCH, INCLUDING FORENSIC RESEARCH, AND RECOMMENDING
CASES OR CATEGORIES OF CASES FOR REINVESTIGATION BASED UPON THE RESULTS
OF SUCH RESEARCH.
§ 268-C. POWERS AND DUTIES. THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE POWERS AND
DUTIES TO:
1. ESTABLISH ITS OWN REASONABLE RULES AND PROCEDURES CONCERNING THE
CONDUCT OF ITS MEETINGS AND OTHER AFFAIRS RELATED TO IMPLEMENTING THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE;
2. EMPLOY AND REMOVE SUCH OFFICERS, INVESTIGATORS AND EMPLOYEES AS IT
MAY DEEM NECESSARY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS POWERS AND DUTIES PURSUANT
TO THIS ARTICLE, AND FIX THEIR COMPENSATION WITHIN THE AMOUNTS MADE
AVAILABLE BY APPROPRIATION THEREFOR;
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3. CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS AND HEARINGS, ADMINISTER OATHS OR AFFIRMA-
TIONS, SUBPOENA WITNESSES, COMPEL THEIR ATTENDANCE, EXAMINE THEM UNDER
OATH OR AFFIRMATION, REQUIRE PRODUCTION OF ANY BOOKS, RECORDS, DOCUMENTS
OR OTHER EVIDENCE THAT IT MAY DEEM RELEVANT OR MATERIAL TO AN INVESTI-
GATION, AND MAY DESIGNATE ANY OF ITS MEMBERS, OFFICERS OR INVESTIGATORS
TO EXERCISE ANY SUCH POWERS; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION SHALL NOT
BE PERMITTED TO COMPEL ANY TRIAL JUDGE, TRIAL COURT OR ANY APPELLATE
COURT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION OR RECORDS PERTAINING TO THE COURT'S ADJU-
DICATIVE PROCESS IN RENDERING ITS DECISION IN ANY CASE;
4. REQUEST AND RECEIVE FROM ANY COURT, DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, BOARD,
BUREAU, COMMISSION OR OTHER AGENCY OF THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDI-
VISION THEREOF OR ANY PUBLIC AUTHORITY SUCH ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION,
RECORDS AND DATA AS WILL ENABLE THE COMMISSION TO PROPERLY CARRY OUT ITS
POWERS AND DUTIES;
5. ISSUE PRELIMINARY REPORTS ON ANY INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED PURSUANT
TO THIS ARTICLE, WHICH PRELIMINARY REPORTS SHALL INCLUDE FINDINGS OF
FACT AND RECOMMENDATIONS;
6. ACCEPT REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT
PETITIONERS IN PROCEEDINGS AFTER JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO TITLE M OF PART
TWO OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW AND ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH SUCH
ORGANIZATIONS AUTHORIZING THE ORGANIZATIONS TO REPRESENT SUCH PETITION-
ERS;
7. RESEARCH AND MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE AND OTHER
FIELDS WHICH MAY AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF CRIMINAL CASES; AND
8. PERFORM ALL ACTIVITIES NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS ARTICLE.
§ 268-D. USE OF INFORMATION. 1. NO PRELIMINARY REPORT, REPORT OR
PORTION THEREOF ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE ADMITTED INTO
EVIDENCE OR USED IN ANY CIVIL OR CRIMINAL CAUSE OF ACTION RELATING TO A
MATTER WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF SUCH REPORT.
2. THE COMMISSION'S ELECTION NOT TO REINVESTIGATE A CASE OR INITIATE
AN ACTION ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER SHALL NOT BE DEEMED A DETERMI-
NATION BY THE COMMISSION AND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO FREEDOM OF INFORMA-
TION LAWS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
3. THE DETERMINATION BY THE COMMISSION NOT TO REINVESTIGATE A CASE OR
INITIATE AN ACTION ON BEHALF OF A PETITIONER SHALL NOT BE DEEMED A
DETERMINATION AND SHALL NOT BE DISCOVERABLE OR ADMISSIBLE IN ANY SUBSE-
QUENT ACTION, ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OR HEARING ADMINISTERED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.
4. ORDERS AND DECISIONS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL NOT BE APPEALABLE.
5. THE COMMISSION SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE TO PETITIONER ANY
RECORDS, DATA, VIDEO OR AUDIO TAPE, OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION RECEIVED BY
SUBPOENA OR OTHER MEANS FROM A DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR FROM ANY
COURT, DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, BOARD, BUREAU, COMMISSION OR OTHER AGENCY
OF THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF OR ANY PUBLIC AUTHORI-
TY PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT-C OF
THIS ARTICLE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law, provided that the officials who are empowered by this
act to appoint members of the conviction review commission are author-
ized and directed to make such appointments on or before such effective
date pursuant to section 268-a of the executive law, as added by section
one of this act.