S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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4209
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 14, 2013
___________
Introduced by Sen. BALL -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to authorizing
the electronic filing of certain accusatory instruments in local crim-
inal courts; and to repeal subdivision 5 of section 1.20 of such law
relating to simplified traffic information
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure
law, as separately amended by chapters 315, 383, 661 and 729 of the laws
of 1972, is REPEALED.
S 2. Subdivision 17 of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law is
amended to read as follows:
17. "Commencement of criminal action." A criminal action is commenced
by the filing of an accusatory instrument against a defendant in a crim-
inal court, and, if more than one accusatory instrument is filed in the
course of the action, it commences when the first of such instruments is
filed; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT A LOCAL CRIMINAL COURT ACCUSATORY INSTRU-
MENT OR ANY ACCUSATION OF A VIOLATION OF A LOCAL LAW, CODE OR ORDINANCE
MAY BE FILED WITH A LOCAL CRIMINAL COURT BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AS AUTHOR-
IZED BY LAW AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE OFFICE OF COURT
ADMINISTRATION.
S 3. Section 100.05 of the criminal procedure law, subdivision 2 as
amended by chapter 661 of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as
follows:
S 100.05 Commencement of action; in general.
1. A criminal action is commenced by the filing of an accusatory
instrument with a criminal court, and if more than one such instrument
is filed in the course of the same criminal action, such action
commences when the first of such instruments is filed. The only way in
which a criminal action can be commenced in a superior court is by the
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09725-01-3
S. 4209 2
filing therewith by a grand jury of an indictment against a defendant
who has never been held by a local criminal court for the action of such
grand jury with respect to any charge contained in such indictment.
Otherwise, a criminal action can be commenced only in a local criminal
court, by the filing therewith of a local criminal court accusatory
instrument, namely:
[1.] (A) An information; or
[2.] (B) A simplified information; or
[3.] (C) A prosecutor's information; or
[4.] (D) A misdemeanor complaint; or
[5.] (E) A felony complaint.
2. THE FILING OF A LOCAL CRIMINAL COURT ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT BY ELEC-
TRONIC MEANS, AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF
THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION, SHALL NOT AFFECT THE VALIDITY OF THE
CRIMINAL ACTION COMMENCED THEREBY.
S 4. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new section
100.60 to read as follows:
S 100.60 ELECTRONIC FILING OF ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT.
IN ANY CRIMINAL ACTION COMMENCED BY THE ELECTRONIC FILING OF A LOCAL
CRIMINAL COURT ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENT, AND IN ANY ACTION COMMENCED BY THE
FILING OF AN ACCUSATION OF A VIOLATION OF A LOCAL LAW, CODE OR ORDI-
NANCE, AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE
OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION, WHICH RESULTS IN A CONVICTION, THE LOCAL
CRIMINAL COURT SHALL IMPOSE AND COLLECT A FEE OF FIVE DOLLARS, WHICH
SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER FINES AND FEES IMPOSED FOR SUCH
CONVICTION. REVENUE DERIVED FROM SUCH FEE SHALL BE MAINTAINED IN ACCORD-
ANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER AND THE OFFICE OF COURT
ADMINISTRATION. SIXTY PERCENT OF THE REVENUE FROM THE FEE IMPOSED PURSU-
ANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE DISBURSED TO THE LOCAL CRIMINAL COURT FOR
ITS EXPENSES OF ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING AN ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM,
AND THE REMAINING FORTY PERCENT SHALL BE DISBURSED TO THE LAW ENFORCE-
MENT AGENCY COMMENCING THE ACTION.
S 5. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law; provided that, effec-
tive immediately, any rules and regulations necessary to implement the
provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed
to be completed on or before such date.