S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7014
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 8, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. AUBRY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Correction
AN ACT to amend the executive law and the criminal procedure law, in
relation to preventing employment discrimination against persons whose
criminal charges have been adjourned in contemplation of dismissal
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 16 of section 296 of the executive law, as
separately amended by section 3 of part N and section 14 of part AAA of
chapter 56 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
16. It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice, unless specif-
ically required or permitted by statute, for any person, agency, bureau,
corporation or association, including the state and any political subdi-
vision thereof, to make any inquiry about, whether in any form of appli-
cation or otherwise, or to act upon adversely to the individual
involved, any arrest or criminal accusation of such individual not then
pending against that individual which was followed by a termination of
that criminal action or proceeding in favor of such individual, as
defined in subdivision two of section 160.50 of the criminal procedure
law, OR BY AN ORDER ADJOURNING THE CRIMINAL ACTION IN CONTEMPLATION OF
DISMISSAL, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 170.55 OR 170.56 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCE-
DURE LAW, or by a youthful offender adjudication, as defined in subdivi-
sion one of section 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or by a
conviction for a violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the
criminal procedure law or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to
section 160.58 of the criminal procedure law, in connection with the
licensing, employment or providing of credit or insurance to such indi-
vidual; provided, further, that no person shall be required to divulge
information pertaining to any arrest or criminal accusation of such
individual not then pending against that individual which was followed
by a termination of that criminal action or proceeding in favor of such
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10654-01-1
A. 7014 2
individual, as defined in subdivision two of section 160.50 of the crim-
inal procedure law, OR BY AN ORDER ADJOURNING THE CRIMINAL ACTION IN
CONTEMPLATION OF DISMISSAL, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 170.55 OR 170.56 OF THE
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW, or by a youthful offender adjudication, as
defined in subdivision one of section 720.35 of the criminal procedure
law, or by a conviction for a violation sealed pursuant to section
160.55 of the criminal procedure law, or by a conviction which is sealed
pursuant to section 160.58 of the criminal procedure law. The provisions
of this subdivision shall not apply to the licensing activities of
governmental bodies in relation to the regulation of guns, firearms and
other deadly weapons or in relation to an application for employment as
a police officer or peace officer as those terms are defined in subdivi-
sions thirty-three and thirty-four of section 1.20 of the criminal
procedure law; provided further that the provisions of this subdivision
shall not apply to an application for employment or membership in any
law enforcement agency with respect to any arrest or criminal accusation
which was followed by a youthful offender adjudication, as defined in
subdivision one of section 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or by a
conviction for a violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the
criminal procedure law, or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to
section 160.58 of the criminal procedure law. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
SUBDIVISION, AN ACTION WHICH HAS BEEN ADJOURNED IN CONTEMPLATION OF
DISMISSAL, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 170.55 OR 170.56 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCE-
DURE LAW, SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED A PENDING ACTION, UNLESS THE CASE HAS
BEEN RESTORED TO THE CALENDAR.
S 2. Subdivision 8 of section 170.55 of the criminal procedure law, as
added by chapter 134 of the laws of 1982 and as renumbered by chapter
683 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
8. The granting of an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal shall
not be deemed to be a conviction or an admission of guilt. No person
shall suffer any disability or forfeiture as a result of such an order.
UPON GRANTING THE ORDER OF ADJOURNMENT, THE ACTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED
TERMINATED IN THE DEFENDANT'S FAVOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF OCCUPATIONAL
LICENSING AS DEFINED BY SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY
OF THE CORRECTION LAW. Upon the dismissal of the accusatory instrument
pursuant to this section, the arrest and prosecution shall be deemed a
nullity and the defendant shall be restored, in contemplation of law, to
the status he OR SHE occupied before his OR HER arrest and prosecution.
S 3. Subdivision 4 of section 170.56 of the criminal procedure law, as
added by chapter 1042 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as
follows:
4. UPON THE GRANTING OF AN ORDER PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
SECTION, THE ACTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED TERMINATED IN THE DEFENDANT'S
FAVOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING AS DEFINED BY SUBDIVI-
SION FOUR OF SECTION SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY OF THE CORRECTION LAW. Upon the
granting of an order pursuant to subdivision three, the arrest and pros-
ecution shall be deemed a nullity and the defendant shall be restored,
in contemplation of law, to the status he OR SHE occupied before his OR
HER arrest and prosecution.
S 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.