BILL NUMBER: S2947

SPONSOR: SERINO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the penal law, in relation to consecutive sentences for
homicide offenses

 
PURPOSE:

This bill authorizes the imposition of consecutive sentences of impri-
sonment for homicide offenses against more than one person that are
committed in a single act.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends the penal law to authorize consecutive sentences if
one or more of the sentences are for homicide and a separate person is
the victim of each offense.

Section 2: Provides an effective date.

              

 
EXISTING LAW:

Under current law, sentencing runs concurrently, regardless of the
number of victims killed in a single act.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

On August 1, 2012, a car carrying two children and their parents was hit
when a parole violator ran a red light in an effort to escape from the
police. The accident resulted in the death of both parents.  The defend-
ant pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter. He faced
a maximum sentence of seven to fifteen years in prison. As a result of
the current law, the judge was mandated to sentence the defendant to
concurrent terms, even though he took the lives of two individuals.

This bill will authorize judges to impose sentences that run consec-
utively for assault and homicide convictions when the single act
involves two or more victims. This will help to ensure that the extent
of a defendant's sentence will directly and appropriately relate to the
amount of suffering he or she has caused to society.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: S.1252 Referred to Codes

2017-18: S2159 Passed Senate/Referred to Codes

2015-16: S.3694-A Passed Senate

2014: S.7482 Passed Senate

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The first of November after enactment.