A. 4238 2
(b) such youth has previously been convicted and sentenced for a felo-
ny[, or
(c) such youth has previously been adjudicated a youthful offender
following conviction of a felony or has been adjudicated on or after
September first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight a juvenile delinquent
who committed a designated felony act as defined in the family court
act].
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision two of this section,
a youth who has been convicted of [an armed felony offense or of] rape
in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, or aggra-
vated sexual abuse is an eligible youth if the court determines that
[one or more of the following factors exist:] THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE
WOULD BE SERVED BY RELIEVING THE YOUTH FROM THE ONUS OF A CRIMINAL
RECORD AND BY NOT IMPOSING AN INDETERMINATE SENTENCE OF MORE THAN FOUR
YEARS. IN MAKING SUCH DETERMINATION, THE COURT SHALL WEIGH THE FOLLOW-
ING FACTORS: (i) THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE WITH
DUE REGARD TO THE EXTENT OF THE HARM CAUSED BY IT; (II) ANY mitigating
circumstances that bear [directly upon] ON the manner in which the crime
was committed; [or (ii)] (III) where the [defendant] YOUTH was not the
sole participant in the crime, the [defendant's participation was rela-
tively minor although not so minor as to constitute a defense to the
prosecution] LEVEL AND EXTENT OF HIS OR HER DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY; (IV) THE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF THE YOUTH; AND (V)
PROSPECTS FOR REHABILITATION OF THE YOUTH OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTER-
VENTIONS THAT WOULD ASSIST THE YOUTH IN LEADING A LAW-ABIDING LIFE.
Where the court determines that the eligible youth is a youthful offen-
der, the court shall make a statement on the record of the reasons for
its determination, a transcript of which shall be forwarded to the state
division of criminal justice services, to be kept in accordance with the
provisions of subdivision three of section eight hundred thirty-seven-a
of the executive law.
4. "Youthful offender finding" means a finding, substituted for the
conviction of an eligible youth, pursuant to a determination that the
eligible youth is a youthful offender.
5. "Youthful offender sentence" means the sentence imposed upon a
youthful offender finding.
6. "Youthful offender adjudication". A youthful offender adjudication
is comprised of a youthful offender finding and the youthful offender
sentence imposed thereon and is completed by imposition and entry of the
youthful offender sentence.
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 720.15 of the criminal procedure law is
REPEALED.
§ 3. Subdivision 1 of section 720.20 of the criminal procedure law, as
amended by chapter 652 of the laws of 1974, is amended to read as
follows:
1. Upon conviction of an eligible youth, the court must order a pre-
sentence investigation of the defendant. After receipt of a written
report of the investigation and at the time of pronouncing sentence the
court must determine whether or not the eligible youth is a youthful
offender. Such determination shall be in accordance with the following
criteria:
(a) If [in the opinion of the court the interest of justice would be
served by relieving the eligible] THE ELIGIBLE YOUTH IS CHARGED WITH A
MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE, A CLASS D OR E FELONY OFFENSE, A CLASS C FELONY AS
DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION 160.10 OF THE PENAL LAW OR ANY
OFFENSE CONTAINED IN ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED TWENTY OF THE PENAL LAW OTHER
A. 4238 3
THAN A CLASS A-I OR A-II FELONY OFFENSE, THE COURT SHALL FIND THAT HE OR
SHE IS A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER.
(B) IN ALL OTHER CASES, EXCEPT WHEN THE YOUTH IS CHARGED WITH RAPE IN
THE FIRST DEGREE, AND AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE, THERE SHALL BE A PRESUMP-
TION TO GRANT YOUTHFUL OFFENDER STATUS TO AN ELIGIBLE YOUTH IN ORDER TO
RELIEVE SUCH youth from the onus of a criminal record [and by not impos-
ing], OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF A CRIMINAL CONVICTION, AND THE IMPOSITION OF
an indeterminate term of imprisonment of more than four years[, the
court may, in its discretion, find the eligible youth is a youthful
offender; and
(b) Where the conviction is had in a local criminal court and the
eligible youth had not prior to commencement of trial or entry of a plea
of guilty been convicted of a crime or found a youthful offender, the
court must find he is a youthful offender]. UPON MOTION OF NOT LESS
THAN SEVEN DAYS' NOTICE, THE PROSECUTOR MAY CHALLENGE THE PRESUMPTION TO
GRANT YOUTHFUL OFFENDER STATUS. THE COURT SHALL GRANT YOUTHFUL OFFENDER
STATUS UNLESS THE PROSECUTOR REBUTS THE PRESUMPTION AND ESTABLISHES BY
CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION
TWO OF SECTION 720.10 OF THIS ARTICLE REQUIRE THAT YOUTHFUL OFFENDER
STATUS BE DENIED.
§ 4. Section 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, as added by chapter
981 of the laws of 1971, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 23 of the
laws of 2021, subdivisions 2 and 4 as amended by section 87 of subpart B
of part C of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011 and subdivision 3 as amended
by chapter 181 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
§ 720.35 Youthful offender adjudication; effect thereof; records.
1. A youthful offender OR YOUNG ADULT adjudication is not a judgment
of conviction for a crime or any other offense, and does not operate as
a disqualification of any person so adjudged to hold public office or
public employment or to receive any license granted by public authority
but shall be deemed a conviction only for the purposes of transfer of
supervision and custody pursuant to section two hundred fifty-nine-m of
the executive law. A defendant for whom a youthful offender adjudication
was substituted, who was originally charged with prostitution as defined
in section 230.00 of the penal law, shall be deemed a "sexually
exploited child" as defined in subdivision one of section four hundred
forty-seven-a of the social services law and therefore shall not be
considered an adult for purposes related to the charges in the youthful
offender proceeding or a proceeding under section 170.80 of this chap-
ter.
2. Except where specifically required or permitted by statute or upon
specific authorization of the court, all official records and papers,
whether on file with the court, a police agency or the division of crim-
inal justice services, relating to a case involving a youth OR YOUNG
ADULT who has been adjudicated a youthful offender OR GRANTED A YOUNG
ADULT STATUS FINDING, are confidential and may not be made available to
any person or public or private agency, other than the designated educa-
tional official of the public or private elementary or secondary school
in which the youth OR YOUNG ADULT is enrolled as a student provided that
such local educational official shall only have made available a notice
of such adjudication and shall not have access to any other official
records and papers, such youth OR YOUNG ADULT or such youth's OR YOUNG
ADULT'S designated agent (but only where the official records and papers
sought are on file with a court and request therefor is made to that
court or to a clerk thereof), an institution to which such youth OR
YOUNG ADULT has been committed, the department of corrections and commu-
A. 4238 4
nity supervision and a probation department of this state that requires
such official records and papers for the purpose of carrying out duties
specifically authorized by law; provided, however, that information
regarding an order of protection or temporary order of protection issued
pursuant to section 530.12 of this chapter or a warrant issued in
connection therewith may be maintained on the statewide automated order
of protection and warrant registry established pursuant to section two
hundred twenty-one-a of the executive law during the period that such
order of protection or temporary order of protection is in full force
and effect or during which such warrant may be executed. Such confiden-
tial information may be made available pursuant to law only for purposes
of adjudicating or enforcing such order of protection or temporary order
of protection and, where provided to a designated educational official,
as defined in section 380.90 of this chapter, for purposes related to
the execution of the student's educational plan, where applicable,
successful school adjustment and reentry into the community. Such
notification shall be kept separate and apart from such student's school
records and shall be accessible only by the designated educational offi-
cial. Such notification shall not be part of such student's permanent
school record and shall not be appended to or included in any documenta-
tion regarding such student and shall be destroyed at such time as such
student is no longer enrolled in the school district. At no time shall
such notification be used for any purpose other than those specified in
this subdivision.
3. If a youth OR YOUNG ADULT who has been adjudicated a youthful
offender OR GRANTED A YOUNG ADULT STATUS FINDING is enrolled as a
student in a public or private elementary or secondary school the court
that has [adjudicated the youth as a] MADE THE youthful offender OR
YOUNG ADULT ADJUDICATION shall provide notification of such adjudication
to the designated educational official of the school in which such youth
OR YOUNG ADULT is enrolled as a student. Such notification shall be
used by the designated educational official only for purposes related to
the execution of the student's educational plan, where applicable,
successful school adjustment and reentry into the community. Such
notification shall be kept separate and apart from such student's school
records and shall be accessible only by the designated educational offi-
cial. Such notification shall not be part of such student's permanent
school record and shall not be appended to or included in any documenta-
tion regarding such student and shall be destroyed at such time as such
student is no longer enrolled in the school district. At no time shall
such notification be used for any purpose other than those specified in
this subdivision.
4. Notwithstanding subdivision two of this section, whenever a person
is adjudicated a youthful offender OR GRANTED YOUNG ADULT STATUS and the
conviction that was vacated and replaced by the youthful offender OR
YOUNG ADULT STATUS finding was for a sex offense as that term is defined
in article ten of the mental hygiene law, all records pertaining to the
youthful offender OR YOUNG ADULT adjudication shall be included in those
records and reports that may be obtained by the commissioner of mental
health or the commissioner of developmental disabilities, as appropri-
ate; the case review panel; and the attorney general pursuant to section
10.05 of the mental hygiene law.
§ 5. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 of section
220.30 of the criminal procedure law, as amended by chapter 410 of the
laws of 1979, is amended to read as follows:
A. 4238 5
(i) A plea of guilty, whether to the entire indictment or to part of
the indictment for any crime other than a class A felony, may not be
accepted on the condition that it constitutes a complete disposition of
one or more other indictments against the defendant wherein is charged a
class A-I felony as defined in article two hundred twenty of the penal
law or the attempt to commit any such class A-I felony, except that [an
eligible youth, as defined in subdivision two of section 720.10, may
plea to a class B felony, upon consent of the district attorney, for
purposes of adjudication as a youthful offender] THIS RESTRICTION SHALL
NOT APPLY TO AN ELIGIBLE YOUTH, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION
720.10 OF THIS CHAPTER, OR AN ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT, AS DEFINED IN SUBDI-
VISION TWO OF SECTION 721.10 OF THIS CHAPTER.
§ 6. Subdivision 3 of section 420.30 of the criminal procedure law, as
amended by chapter 144 of the laws of 2020, is amended to read as
follows:
3. Restrictions. Except as provided for in subdivision two-a of
section 420.35 of this article, in no event shall a mandatory surcharge,
sex offender registration fee, DNA databank fee or crime victim assist-
ance fee be remitted. IN NO EVENT SHALL SUCH FEES BE IMPOSED FOR A
JUVENILE OFFENDER, A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER OR A YOUNG ADULT STATUS FINDING.
§ 7. Subdivision 2 of section 420.35 of the criminal procedure law, as
amended by chapter 23 of the laws of 2021, is amended as follows:
2. Except as provided in this subdivision or subdivision two-a of this
section, under no circumstances shall the mandatory surcharge, sex
offender registration fee, DNA databank fee or the crime victim assist-
ance fee be waived. A court shall waive any mandatory surcharge, DNA
databank fee and crime victim assistance fee when: (i) the defendant is
convicted of prostitution under section 230.00 of the penal law; (ii)
the defendant is convicted of a violation in the event such conviction
is in lieu of a plea to or conviction for prostitution under section
230.00 of the penal law; (iii) the court finds that a defendant is a
victim of sex trafficking under section 230.34 of the penal law or a
victim of trafficking in persons under the trafficking victims
protection act (United States Code, Title 22, Chapter 78); [or] (iv) the
court finds that the defendant is a victim of sex trafficking of a child
under section 230.34-a of the penal law; OR (V) THE COURT DETERMINES
THAT THE DEFENDANT IS A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PURSUANT TO SECTION 720.00 OF
THIS CHAPTER OR THE COURT GRANTS THE DEFENDANT YOUNG ADULT STATUS PURSU-
ANT TO SECTION 721.00 OF THIS CHAPTER.
§ 8. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new article 721
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 721
YOUNG ADULT STATUS
SECTION 721.10 YOUNG ADULT STATUS PROCEDURE; DEFINITION OF TERMS.
721.15 YOUNG ADULT STATUS PROCEDURE; SEALING OF ACCUSATORY
INSTRUMENT; PRIVACY OF PROCEEDINGS; PRELIMINARY
INSTRUCTIONS TO JURY.
721.20 YOUNG ADULT STATUS DETERMINATION; WHEN AND HOW MADE;
PROCEDURE THEREUPON.
721.30 YOUNG ADULT ADJUDICATION; POST-JUDGMENT MOTIONS AND
APPEAL.
721.35 YOUNG ADULT ADJUDICATION; EFFECT THEREOF; RECORDS.
§ 721.10 YOUNG ADULT STATUS PROCEDURE; DEFINITION OF TERMS.
AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEAN-
INGS:
A. 4238 6
1. "YOUNG ADULT" MEANS A PERSON CHARGED WITH A CRIME ALLEGED TO HAVE
BEEN COMMITTED WHEN HE OR SHE WAS AT LEAST NINETEEN YEARS OLD AND LESS
THAN TWENTY-SIX YEARS OLD.
2. "ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS AT LEAST NINETEEN
YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN TWENTY-SIX YEARS OLD WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR YOUNG
ADULT STATUS. EVERY YOUNG ADULT IS SO ELIGIBLE UNLESS: (A) THE
CONVICTION TO BE REPLACED BY YOUNG ADULT ADJUDICATION IS FOR (I) A CLASS
A-I OR CLASS A-II FELONY, OR (II) RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE, CRIMINAL
SEXUAL ACT IN THE FIRST DEGREE, OR AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE, EXCEPT AS
PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION, OR (B) SUCH YOUNG ADULT
HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR A FELONY.
3. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION,
A YOUNG ADULT WHO HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE, CRIMI-
NAL SEXUAL ACT IN THE FIRST DEGREE, OR AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE IS AN
ELIGIBLE YOUTH IF THE COURT DETERMINES, WITHOUT APPLYING THE PRESUMPTION
DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION 721.20 OF THIS
ARTICLE, THAT THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE WOULD BE SERVED BY RELIEVING THE
YOUNG ADULT FROM THE ONUS OF A CRIMINAL RECORD AND BY NOT IMPOSING AN
INDETERMINATE SENTENCE OF MORE THAN FOUR YEARS. IN MAKING SUCH DETERMI-
NATION, THE COURT SHALL WEIGH THE FOLLOWING FACTORS:
(A) THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE WITH DUE REGARD
TO THE EXTENT OF THE HARM CAUSED BY IT.
(B) ANY MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT BEAR ON THE MANNER IN WHICH THE
CRIME WAS COMMITTED.
(C) WHERE THE YOUNG ADULT WAS NOT THE SOLE PARTICIPANT IN THE CRIME,
THE LEVEL AND EXTENT OF HIS OR HER DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY.
(D) THE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF THE YOUNG ADULT.
(E) PROSPECTS FOR REHABILITATION OF THE YOUNG ADULT OR OPPORTUNITIES
FOR INTERVENTIONS THAT WOULD ASSIST THE YOUNG ADULT IN LEADING A LAW-A-
BIDING LIFE.
WHERE THE COURT MAKES A YOUNG ADULT STATUS FINDING, THE COURT SHALL
MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE RECORD OF THE REASONS FOR ITS DETERMINATION, A
TRANSCRIPT OF WHICH SHALL BE FORWARDED TO THE STATE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SERVICES, TO BE KEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDI-
VISION THREE OF SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN-A OF THE EXECUTIVE
LAW.
4. "YOUNG ADULT FINDING" MEANS A FINDING, SUBSTITUTED FOR THE
CONVICTION OF AN ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT, PURSUANT TO A DETERMINATION THAT
THE ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT SHALL BE GRANTED YOUNG ADULT STATUS.
5. "YOUNG ADULT SENTENCE" MEANS THE SENTENCE IMPOSED UPON A YOUNG
ADULT FINDING.
6. "YOUNG ADULT ADJUDICATION" MEANS AN ADJUDICATION COMPRISED OF A
YOUNG ADULT FINDING AND THE YOUNG ADULT SENTENCE IMPOSED THEREON AND IS
COMPLETED BY IMPOSITION AND ENTRY OF THE YOUNG ADULT SENTENCE.
§ 721.15 YOUNG ADULT STATUS PROCEDURE; SEALING OF ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT;
PRIVACY OF PROCEEDINGS; PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS TO JURY.
1. WHEN AN ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT AGAINST AN APPARENTLY ELIGIBLE YOUNG
ADULT IS FILED WITH A COURT, IT SHALL BE FILED AS A SEALED INSTRUMENT,
THOUGH ONLY WITH RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC.
2. WHEN AN ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT IS INITIALLY ARRAIGNED UPON AN ACCUSA-
TORY INSTRUMENT, SUCH ARRAIGNMENT AND ALL PROCEEDINGS IN THE ACTION
THEREAFTER MAY, IN THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT AND WITH THE CONSENT OF
THE ACCUSED, BE CONDUCTED IN PRIVATE.
§ 721.20 YOUNG ADULT STATUS DETERMINATION; WHEN AND HOW MADE; PROCEDURE
THEREUPON.
A. 4238 7
1. UPON CONVICTION OF AN ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT, THE COURT SHALL ORDER A
PRE-SENTENCE INVESTIGATION OF THE DEFENDANT. AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN
REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATION AND AT THE TIME OF PRONOUNCING SENTENCE THE
COURT SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE ELIGIBLE YOUTH WILL RECEIVE
YOUNG ADULT STATUS. SUCH DETERMINATION SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
(A) IF THE ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT IS CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE,
THE COURT SHALL GRANT HIM OR HER YOUNG ADULT STATUS;
(B) IN ALL OTHER CASES, EXCEPT RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE, CRIMINAL
SEXUAL ACT IN THE FIRST DEGREE, AND AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE, THERE SHALL
BE A PRESUMPTION TO GRANT ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT STATUS TO AN ELIGIBLE
YOUNG ADULT IN ORDER TO RELIEVE SUCH YOUNG ADULT FROM THE ONUS OF A
CRIMINAL RECORD, OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF A CRIMINAL CONVICTION, AND THE
IMPOSITION OF AN INDETERMINATE TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OF MORE THAN FOUR
YEARS. UPON MOTION ON NOT LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS' NOTICE, THE PROSECUTOR
MAY CHALLENGE THE PRESUMPTION TO GRANT YOUNG ADULT STATUS. THE COURT
SHALL GRANT YOUNG ADULT STATUS UNLESS THE PROSECUTOR REBUTS THE PRESUMP-
TION AND ESTABLISHES BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THE CRITERIA
SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION 721.10 OF THIS ARTICLE REQUIRE
THAT YOUNG ADULT STATUS BE DENIED.
2. WHERE AN ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT IS CONVICTED OF TWO OR MORE CRIMES OR
OFFENSES SET FORTH IN SEPARATE COUNTS OF AN ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT OR SET
FORTH IN TWO OR MORE ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENTS CONSOLIDATED FOR TRIAL
PURPOSES, THE COURT SHALL NOT GRANT HIM OR HER YOUNG ADULT STATUS WITH
RESPECT TO ANY SUCH CONVICTION PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS
SECTION UNLESS IT GRANTS YOUNG ADULT STATUS WITH RESPECT TO ALL SUCH
CONVICTIONS.
3. UPON DETERMINING TO GRANT YOUNG ADULT STATUS, THE COURT SHALL
DIRECT THAT THE CONVICTION BE DEEMED VACATED AND REPLACED BY A YOUNG
ADULT STATUS FINDING; AND THE COURT SHALL SENTENCE THE YOUNG ADULT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 60.02 OF THE PENAL LAW.
4. UPON DETERMINING THAT AN ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT SHALL NOT BE GRANTED
YOUNG ADULT STATUS, THE COURT SHALL ORDER THE ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT
UNSEALED AND CONTINUE THE ACTION TO JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO THE ORDINARY
RULES GOVERNING CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS.
§ 721.30 YOUNG ADULT ADJUDICATION; POST-JUDGMENT MOTIONS AND APPEAL.
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, GOVERNING THE MAKING AND DETERMINATION
OF POST-JUDGMENT MOTIONS AND THE TAKING AND DETERMINATION OF APPEALS IN
CRIMINAL CASES, APPLY TO POST JUDGMENT MOTIONS AND APPEALS WITH RESPECT
TO YOUNG ADULT ADJUDICATIONS WHEREVER SUCH PROVISIONS CAN REASONABLY BE
SO APPLIED.
§ 721.35 YOUNG ADULT ADJUDICATION; EFFECT THEREOF; RECORDS.
1. A YOUNG ADULT ADJUDICATION IS NOT A JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION FOR A
CRIME OR ANY OTHER OFFENSE, AND DOES NOT OPERATE AS A DISQUALIFICATION
OF ANY PERSON SO ADJUDGED TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE OR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT OR
TO RECEIVE ANY LICENSE GRANTED BY PUBLIC AUTHORITY BUT SHALL BE DEEMED A
CONVICTION ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRANSFER OF SUPERVISION AND CUSTODY
PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE-M OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
2. UPON RECEIPT OF NOTIFICATION OF A YOUNG ADULT ADJUDICATION, SUCH
ADJUDICATION AND ALL RECORDS THEREOF SHALL BE SEALED IN THE SAME MANNER
AS DEFINED IN SECTION 720.35 OF THIS TITLE; AND SUCH RECORDS SHALL NOT
BE AVAILABLE EXCEPT WHERE SPECIFICALLY REQUIRED BY STATUTE OR UPON
SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION BY THE COURT.
§ 9. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new section
440.49 to read as follows:
§ 440.49 RESENTENCING; YOUTHFUL OFFENDER.
A. 4238 8
1. ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-SIX AT THE TIME THE CRIME WAS
COMMITTED WHO WAS CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR OR VIOLATION OFFENSE WHO
WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AN "ELIGIBLE YOUTH" PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
TWO OF SECTION 720.10 OF THIS CHAPTER AND AN "ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULT"
PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION 721.10 OF THIS CHAPTER AFTER THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION SHALL HAVE THEIR CONVICTION AUTOMATICALLY
REPLACED WITH A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER ADJUDICATION OR YOUNG ADULT OFFENDER
ADJUDICATION WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE STATUTE'S EFFECTIVE DATE. THE
DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES SHALL ESTABLISH STANDARDS TO
ENSURE THAT SUCH PROCESS OCCURS AUTOMATICALLY FOR ALL PERSONS PRIOR TO
SUCH SIX MONTH DEADLINE.
2. ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-SIX AT THE TIME THE CRIME WAS
COMMITTED WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AN "ELIGIBLE YOUTH" PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION 720.10 OF THIS CHAPTER AND AN "ELIGIBLE YOUNG
ADULT" PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION 721.10 OF THIS CHAPTER
AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, UPON NOTICE TO THE APPROPRIATE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY, MAY PETITION TO BE RESENTENCED TO A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER
ADJUDICATION OR YOUNG ADULT OFFENDER ADJUDICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH
ARTICLES SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY AND SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE OF THIS CHAP-
TER IN THE COURT WHICH IMPOSED SUCH SENTENCE. EVEN IF A PERSON IS ELIGI-
BLE FOR AUTOMATIC YOUTHFUL OFFENDER ADJUDICATION OR YOUNG ADULT OFFENDER
ADJUDICATION SEALING PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, SUCH
PERSON MAY STILL PETITION THE COURT FOR RESENTENCING PRIOR TO THE SIX
MONTH PERIOD DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
3. THE COURT SHALL CONSIDER THE FACTORS OUTLINED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF
SECTION 720.20 AND SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION 721.20 OF THIS CHAPTER IN
DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ELIGIBLE
YOUTH MAY OR SHALL BE GRANTED YOUTHFUL OFFENDER STATUS OR YOUNG ADULT
OFFENDER STATUS FOR THE PRIOR CONVICTION.
(A) IN CASES WHERE GRANTING YOUTHFUL OFFENDER STATUS OR YOUNG ADULT
OFFENDER STATUS IS DISCRETIONARY AND NOT REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (A) OF
SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION 720.20 OR PARAGRAPH (A) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
SECTION 721.20 OF THIS CHAPTER, THE COURT SHALL ALSO CONSIDER ANY ADDI-
TIONAL EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE PERSON SEEKING RESENTENCING, INCLUDING:
(I) THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT HAS ELAPSED SINCE THE PETITIONER'S LAST
CONVICTION;
(II) THE CHARACTER OF THE PETITIONER, INCLUDING ANY MEASURES THAT HE
OR SHE HAS TAKEN TOWARDS REHABILITATION, SUCH AS PARTICIPATING IN TREAT-
MENT PROGRAMS, WORK, OR SCHOOLING, AND PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY
SERVICE OR OTHER VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS;
(III) THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE FOR WHICH THE
PETITIONER IS SEEKING RELIEF;
(IV) THE IMPACT OF SEALING THE PETITIONER'S RECORD UPON HIS OR HER
REHABILITATION AND UPON HIS OR HER SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE REENTRY AND
REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY; AND
(V) THE IMPACT OF COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONVICTION ON THE
DEFENDANT AND HIS OR HER FAMILY.
(B) THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY MAY CHALLENGE THE PRESUMPTION TO GRANT
YOUTHFUL OFFENDER STATUS PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
SECTION 720.20 AND PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION 721.20 OF
THIS CHAPTER.
4. SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTEEN AND SUBDIVISION
FOUR OF SECTION SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO OF THE COUNTY LAW, AND THE
RELATED PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE EIGHTEEN-A OF SUCH LAW SHALL APPLY TO THE
PREPARATION AND PROCEEDINGS ON MOTIONS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, INCLUD-
ING ANY APPEALS.
A. 4238 9
§ 10. Section 450.10 of the criminal procedure law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. AN ORDER DENYING A MOTION, MADE PURSUANT TO SECTION 440.49 OF THIS
TITLE, FOR GRANTING YOUTHFUL OFFENDER OR YOUNG ADULT STATUS.
§ 11. Subdivision 2 of section 60.00 of the penal law, as added by
chapter 481 of the laws of 1978, is amended and a new subdivision 3 is
added to read as follows:
2. The sole provision of this article that shall apply in the case of
an offense committed by a juvenile offender [is] OR A DEFENDANT ADJUDI-
CATED A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER OR YOUNG ADULT IN section 60.10 of this arti-
cle and no other provisions of this article shall be deemed or construed
to apply in any such case.
3. THE SOLE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE THAT MAY APPLY IN THE CASE OF
AN OFFENSE COMMITTED BY A DEFENDANT ADJUDICATED A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER OR
YOUNG ADULT STATUS ARE SECTIONS 60.02 AND 60.10-A OF THIS ARTICLE AND NO
OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE DEEMED OR CONSTRUED TO APPLY
IN ANY SUCH CASE.
§ 12. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 60.02 of the penal law, as
amended by chapter 471 of the laws of 1980, are amended and a new subdi-
vision 3 is added to read as follows:
(1) If the sentence is to be imposed upon a youthful offender OR YOUNG
ADULT STATUS finding which has been substituted for a conviction of an
offense other than a felony, the court must impose a sentence authorized
for the offense for which the youthful offender OR YOUNG ADULT finding
was substituted[, except that if the youthful offender finding was
entered pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section 720.20
of the criminal procedure law,] WHERE THE CONVICTION IS FOR A MISDEMEA-
NOR the court must not impose a definite or intermittent sentence of
imprisonment with a term of more than six months; or
(2) If the sentence is to be imposed upon a youthful offender finding
which has been substituted for a conviction for any felony, the court
must impose a sentence authorized to be imposed upon a person convicted
of a class E felony [provided, however, that the court must not impose a
sentence of conditional discharge or unconditional discharge if the
youthful offender finding was substituted for a conviction of a felony
defined in article two hundred twenty of this chapter].
3. IF THE SENTENCE IS TO BE IMPOSED UPON A YOUNG ADULT STATUS FINDING
WHICH HAS BEEN SUBSTITUTED FOR A CONVICTION FOR ANY FELONY, THE COURT
SHALL IMPOSE A SENTENCE AUTHORIZED TO BE IMPOSED UPON A PERSON CONVICTED
OF A CLASS E FELONY.
§ 13. Subdivision 4 of section 80.00 of the penal law, as amended by
chapter 338 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
4. Exception. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a
corporation, OR TO A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER FINDING AS DEFINED IN SECTION
720.10 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW OR YOUNG ADULT STATUS FINDING AS
DEFINED IN SECTION 721.10 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW.
§ 14. Subdivision 6 of section 80.05 of the penal law is amended to
read as follows:
6. Exception. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a
corporation, OR TO A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER FINDING AS DEFINED IN SECTION
720.10 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW OR YOUNG ADULT STATUS FINDING AS
DEFINED IN SECTION 721.10 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW.
§ 15. Subdivision 4 of section 340.40 of the criminal procedure law,
as amended by chapter 806 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as
follows:
A. 4238 10
4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, [in any local criminal
court] the trial of a person who is an eligible youth within the meaning
of the youthful offender procedure set forth in article seven hundred
twenty of this chapter [and who has not prior to commencement of the
trial been convicted of a crime or adjudicated a youthful offender must
be] SHALL BE A JURY TRIAL OR, WHERE THE ELIGIBLE YOUTH HAS WAIVED A JURY
TRIAL PURSUANT TO SECTION 320.10 OF THIS PART, a single judge trial.
§ 16. This act shall take effect on the first of November next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply
to any criminal case pending on such effective date.