S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4273
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 1, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WALKER, QUART, GLICK, REYES, BRONSON, LAVINE,
GOTTFRIED, DE LA ROSA, CRUZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Codes
AN ACT to amend the civil practice law and rules, the criminal procedure
law, the executive law, and the legislative law, in relation to the
use in evidence of the fact of possession or presence on the premises
of condoms and other sexual and reproductive health devices; and to
repeal paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 160.10 of the crimi-
nal procedure law relating thereto
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "End crimi-
nalization of condoms act".
§ 2. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds that promoting
and protecting health and respecting and fulfilling human rights are
necessarily linked, and that health-oriented and rights-based law
enforcement efforts are central to the effective provision of government
services for the benefit of the people of the State. Article 17, section
3 of the New York constitution requires that the legislature protect and
promote the health of the inhabitants of this state as a matter of
public concern. Despite these provisions, for purposes of prosecuting
certain criminal, civil and administrative offenses, reproductive and
sexual health tools, including condoms, are currently being destroyed,
confiscated, or used as evidence by law enforcement officers. This
legislation is intended to strengthen the public health of all New York-
ers, including the most vulnerable, while preserving the ability of law
enforcement to prosecute other crimes such as felony sexual offenses.
The purpose of this bill is to avoid the disparate impact of the prac-
tice of citing condoms and other reproductive and sexual health tools as
evidence upon survivors of trafficking and people who are or are
profiled as being engaged in the sex trades.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07971-01-1
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§ 3. The civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new
section 4519-a to read as follows:
§ 4519-A. POSSESSION OF REPRODUCTIVE OR SEXUAL HEALTH DEVICES; RECEIPT
INTO EVIDENCE. 1. THE FACT OF POSSESSION OF A CONDOM OR OTHER REPRODUC-
TIVE OR SEXUAL HEALTH DEVICE MAY NOT BE RECEIVED IN EVIDENCE IN ANY
TRIAL, HEARING OR PROCEEDING PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION
TWELVE AND ARTICLE TEN OF THE MULTIPLE DWELLING LAW, SECTIONS TWELVE-A
AND TWENTY-THREE HUNDRED TWENTY OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, SECTION TWO
HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW OR SUBDIVISION FIVE OF
SECTION SEVEN HUNDRED ELEVEN AND SECTION SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE
REAL PROPERTY ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS LAW, OR BY ANY LAW, LOCAL LAW OR
ORDINANCE OF A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE, OR BY ANY WORD, RULE
OR REGULATION OF ANY GOVERNMENTAL INSTRUMENTALITY AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO
ADOPT THE SAME AS EVIDENCE OF PROSTITUTION, PATRONIZING A PROSTITUTE,
PROMOTING PROSTITUTION, PERMITTING PROSTITUTION, MAINTAINING A PREMISES
FOR PROSTITUTION, LEWDNESS OR ASSIGNATION, MAINTAINING A BAWDY HOUSE,
COMPELLING PROSTITUTION, OR SEX TRAFFICKING.
2. "REPRODUCTIVE OR SEXUAL HEALTH DEVICE" SHALL INCLUDE ANY CONTRACEP-
TIVE OR OTHER TOOL USED TO PREVENT UNWANTED PREGNANCY OR THE TRANS-
MISSION OF HIV OR OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO MALE CONDOMS, FEMALE CONDOMS, LUBRICANTS, PRE-EXPOSURE
PROPHYLAXIS ("PREP"), POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS ("PEP"), HIV ANTI-RETRO-
VIRAL MEDICATION, SPERMICIDE, HORMONAL METHODS, EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION,
DIAPHRAGM, CERVICAL CAP, OR SPONGE.
§ 4. Section 60.47 of the criminal procedure law, as added by section
2 of part I of chapter 57 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as
follows:
§ 60.47 Possession of condoms OR OTHER REPRODUCTIVE OR SEXUAL HEALTH
DEVICE; receipt into evidence.
1. Evidence that a person was in possession of one or more condoms OR
OTHER REPRODUCTIVE OR SEXUAL HEALTH DEVICE may not be admitted at any
trial, hearing, or other proceeding in a prosecution for [section
230.00] ANY OFFENSE, OR AN ATTEMPT TO COMMIT ANY OFFENSE, DEFINED IN
ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED THIRTY or section 240.37 of the penal law, OR
SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TWELVE OF THE EDUCATION LAW, OR ANY LAW,
LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE OF A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE, OR ANY
WORD, RULE OR REGULATION OF ANY GOVERNMENTAL INSTRUMENTALITY AUTHORIZED
BY LAW TO ADOPT THE SAME, for the purpose of establishing probable cause
for an arrest or proving any person's commission or attempted commission
of such offense, AS EVIDENCE OF PROSTITUTION OR TRAFFICKING-RELATED
ACTIVITY.
2. "REPRODUCTIVE OR SEXUAL HEALTH DEVICE" SHALL INCLUDE ANY CONTRACEP-
TIVE OR OTHER TOOL USED TO PREVENT UNWANTED PREGNANCY OR THE TRANS-
MISSION OF HIV OR OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO MALE CONDOMS, FEMALE CONDOMS, LUBRICANT, PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHY-
LAXIS ("PREP"), POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS ("PEP"), HIV ANTI-RETROVIRAL
MEDICATION, SPERMICIDE, HORMONAL METHODS, EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION,
DIAPHRAGM, CERVICAL CAP, OR SPONGE.
§ 5. Paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 160.10 of the criminal
procedure law is REPEALED.
§ 6. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 160.10 of the criminal
procedure law, as amended by chapter 762 of the laws of 1971, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) A misdemeanor defined outside the penal law which would constitute
a felony if such person had a previous judgment of conviction for a
crime[; or].
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§ 7. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1, subdivision 2 and subdi-
vision 3 of section 160.55 of the criminal procedure law, the opening
paragraph of subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 359 of the laws of
2019, subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 476 of the laws of 2009 and
subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 249 of the laws of 1981 and renum-
bered by chapter 142 of the laws of 1991, are amended to read as
follows:
Regardless of the class of offense for which a person is initially
charged, upon the termination of a criminal action or proceeding against
a person by the conviction of such person of a traffic infraction or a
violation, other than [a violation of loitering as described in para-
graph (d) of subdivision one of section 160.10 of this article or] the
violation of operating a motor vehicle while ability impaired as
described in subdivision one of section eleven hundred ninety-two of the
vehicle and traffic law, unless the district attorney upon motion with
not less than five days' notice to such person or his or her attorney
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the court that the interests of
justice require otherwise, or the court on its own motion with not less
than five days' notice to such person or his or her attorney determines
that the interests of justice require otherwise and states the reasons
for such determination on the record, the clerk of the court wherein
such criminal action or proceeding was terminated shall immediately
notify the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services and
the heads of all appropriate police departments and other law enforce-
ment agencies that the action has been terminated by such conviction.
Upon receipt of notification of such termination:
2. A report of the termination of the action or proceeding by
conviction of a traffic violation or a violation other than [a violation
of loitering as described in paragraph (d) or (e) of subdivision one of
section 160.10 of this title or] the violation of operating a motor
vehicle while ability impaired as described in subdivision one of
section eleven hundred ninety-two of the vehicle and traffic law, shall
be sufficient notice of sealing to the commissioner of the division of
criminal justice services unless the report also indicates that the
court directed that the record not be sealed in the interests of
justice. Where the court has determined pursuant to subdivision one of
this section that sealing is not in the interests of justice, the clerk
of the court shall include notification of that determination in any
report to such division of the disposition of the action or proceeding.
When the defendant has been found guilty of a violation of harassment in
the second degree and it was determined pursuant to subdivision eight-a
of section 170.10 of this title that such violation was committed
against a member of the same family or household as the defendant, the
clerk of the court shall include notification of that determination in
any report to such division of the disposition of the action or proceed-
ing for purposes of paragraph (a) and subparagraph (vi) of paragraph (d)
of subdivision one of this section.
3. A person against whom a criminal action or proceeding was termi-
nated by such person's conviction of a traffic infraction or violation
other than [a violation of loitering as described in paragraph (d) or
(e) of subdivision one of section 160.10 of this chapter or] the
violation of operating a motor vehicle while ability impaired as
described in subdivision one of section eleven hundred ninety-two of the
vehicle and traffic law, prior to the effective date of this section,
may upon motion apply to the court in which such termination occurred,
upon not less than twenty days notice to the district attorney, for an
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order granting to such person the relief set forth in subdivision one of
this section, and such order shall be granted unless the district attor-
ney demonstrates to the satisfaction of the court that the interests of
justice require otherwise.
§ 8. Section 841 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 7-b to read as follows:
7-B. TAKE SUCH STEPS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT ALL POLICE
OFFICERS AND PEACE OFFICERS CERTIFIED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF
THIS SECTION RECEIVE APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION REGARDING THE EVIDENTIARY
PROHIBITION SET FORTH IN SECTION 60.47 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW AND
SECTION FORTY-FIVE HUNDRED NINETEEN-A OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND
RULES RELATING TO THE USE OF CONDOMS AND OTHER REPRODUCTIVE OR SEXUAL
HEALTH DEVICES AS EVIDENCE IN CERTAIN TRIALS, HEARINGS OR PROCEEDINGS,
OR AS A BASIS FOR PROBABLE CAUSE FOR ARREST, INCLUDING THAT UNAUTHORIZED
SEIZURE OR CONFISCATION OF CONDOMS AND OTHER REPRODUCTIVE OR SEXUAL
HEALTH DEVICES IS A BREACH OF PUBLIC POLICY.
§ 9. The legislative law is amended by adding a new section 49 to read
as follows:
§ 49. REQUIREMENT WITH RESPECT TO BILLS AMENDING CERTAIN LAWS WHICH
AFFECT HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS. WHENEVER A COMMITTEE FAVORABLY REPORTS A
BILL TO AMEND ARTICLES TWO HUNDRED THIRTY OR SECTION 240.37 OF THE PENAL
LAW, OR, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE VOTING MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE, ANY
BILL WHICH, IF PASSED, WOULD INCREASE OR DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ARRES-
TEES OR PRETRIAL OR SENTENCED POPULATION OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN
THIS STATE, A MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS VOTING MAY REQUEST THAT
A HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT STATEMENT BE PREPARED. THE LEGISLATURE
SHALL BY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY PRESCRIBE
RULES REQUIRING HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT STATEMENTS TO ACCOMPANY,
ON A SEPARATE FORM, BILLS AND AMENDMENTS TO BILLS AFTER SUCH BILLS HAVE
BEEN REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE. HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT STATEMENTS
SHALL BE PREPARED BEFORE THE BILL IS CONSIDERED FOR FINAL PASSAGE. THE
STATEMENT SHALL INDICATE WHETHER THE BILL WOULD HAVE A DISPARATE IMPACT
BY RACE, ETHNICITY, RELIGION, AGE, GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY OR
EXPRESSION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, IMMIGRATION STATUS, DISABILITY, OR HOUS-
ING STATUS COMPOSITION OF THE ARRESTEE AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITY POPU-
LATION AND AN EXPLANATION OF THAT IMPACT. ANY IMPACT STATEMENT PRINTED
WITH OR PREPARED FOR A BILL IS SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF INFORMATION,
SUMMARIZATION AND EXPLANATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND SHALL
NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REPRESENT THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE OR EITHER
CHAMBER THEREOF FOR ANY PURPOSE. EACH IMPACT STATEMENT SHALL BEAR THE
FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER: "THE FOLLOWING HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT
STATEMENT IS PREPARED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE,
SOLELY FOR PURPOSES OF INFORMATION, SUMMARIZATION AND EXPLANATION AND
DOES NOT REPRESENT THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE OR EITHER CHAMBER THER-
EOF FOR ANY PURPOSE."
§ 10. The legislative law is amended by adding a new section 83-n to
read as follows:
§ 83-N. LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS. 1. THE
LEGISLATURE HEREBY FINDS THAT PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HEALTH AND
RESPECTING AND FULFILLING HUMAN RIGHTS ARE NECESSARILY LINKED, AND THAT
COORDINATION BETWEEN HEALTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IS CENTRAL TO
THE EFFECTIVE PROVISION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE.
2. A LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS IS HEREBY
ESTABLISHED TO EXAMINE, EVALUATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING
RIGHTS-BASED APPROACHES TO HEALTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVENTIONS.
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THE COMMISSION SHALL ACT AS A MECHANISM FOR ONGOING AND MEANINGFUL
INVOLVEMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE OR POTENTIALLY COULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS
LAW, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING, PEOPLE WHO
ARE OR ARE PROFILED AS BEING INVOLVED IN THE SEX TRADES, COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE IN
CUSTODIAL SETTINGS. THE COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE MONITORING AND EXPERT
PERSPECTIVE TO THE LEGISLATURE, PROMOTING AWARENESS OF PROBLEMS IN REAL
TIME AS THEY EMERGE, INCREASE COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND THEIR LEGISLATORS, AND
ALLOW LEGISLATORS TO SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF
THESE INITIATIVES. THE COMMISSION SHALL MAKE SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS AS IT
MAY DEEM NECESSARY AS TO REGULATIONS, POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND PROPOSED
LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM OF PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLIC
SAFETY WHILE ALSO PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH, TO ENCOURAGE THE MOST EFFEC-
TIVE USE OF STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES, TO PRESERVE THE FISCAL INTEGRITY
OF BOTH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT HEALTH SYSTEMS AND OTHERWISE TO
STRENGTHEN THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT TO HEALTH.
3. THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIST OF TEN REPRESENTATIVES FROM ORGANIZA-
TIONS THAT PROMOTE ADVOCACY BY AND FOR DIRECTLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.
FROM AMONG THE MEMBERS SO APPOINTED, A CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON
SHALL BE DESIGNATED BY THE JOINT ACTION OF THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEES. ANY VACANCY THAT OCCURS IN THE
COMMISSION OR IN THE CHAIRMANSHIP OR VICE CHAIRMANSHIP SHALL BE FILLED
IN THE SAME MANNER IN WHICH THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT OR DESIGNATION WAS
MADE.
4. THE COMMISSION IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED POWERS SHALL HAVE
ALL THE POWERS AND PRIVILEGES OF A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO
THIS CHAPTER.
5. FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ITS PURPOSE, THE COMMISSION SHALL BE
AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO UNDERTAKE ANY STUDY, INQUIRY, SURVEY, OR
ANALYSIS IT MAY DEEM RELEVANT THROUGH ITS OWN PERSONNEL IN COOPERATION
WITH OR BY AGREEMENT WITH ANY OTHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCY.
6. THE COMMISSION MAY REQUIRE AND SHALL RECEIVE FROM ANY DEPARTMENT,
BOARD, BUREAU, COMMISSION, AUTHORITY, OFFICE, OR OTHER INSTRUMENTALITY
OF THE STATE, AND FROM ANY COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE OF THIS STATE,
SUCH FACILITIES, ASSISTANCE, AND DATA, AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY OR DESIRA-
BLE FOR PROPER EXECUTION OF ITS POWERS AND DUTIES.
7. THE COMMISSION MAY HOLD PUBLIC OR PRIVATE HEARINGS AND SHALL HAVE
FULL POWERS TO SUBPOENA WITNESSES AND ALL RECORDS OR DATA IT SHALL DEEM
NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER.
8. THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL SERVE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AND
RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES.
§ 11. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 4 of section 837 of the executive
law, as amended by chapter 169 of the laws of 1994, is amended and a new
paragraph (g) is added to read as follows:
(f) Accomplish all of the functions, powers, and duties set forth in
paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this subdivision with respect to the
processing and disposition of cases involving violent felony offenses
specified in subdivision one of section 70.02 of the penal law[.]; AND
(G) ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES SET FORTH IN
PARAGRAPHS (A), (B), (C) AND (D) OF THIS SUBDIVISION WITH RESPECT TO ALL
CHAPTERS OF LAW RESULTING FROM LEGISLATIVE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBJECT
TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS FORTY-NINE AND EIGHTY-THREE-N OF THE
LEGISLATIVE LAW. THE DIVISION SHALL PRESENT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPO-
RARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, THE
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY AN ANNU-
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AL REPORT CONTAINING THE STATISTICS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELEVANT TO
THIS SUBDIVISION.
§ 12. If any provision of this article or the application thereof to
any person, circumstances, or political subdivision of this state is
adjudged invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction such judgment
shall not affect or impair the validity of the other provisions of the
article or the application thereof to other political subdivisions of
this state, persons, and circumstances.
§ 13. This act shall take effect on the first of March next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however that the
amendments to article 5-A of the legislative law made by section ten of
this act shall not affect the repeal of such article and shall be deemed
repealed therewith.