S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5032
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 10, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to ensuring
accurate fingerprint identifications and providing for a verification
hearing upon arrest
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 160.30 of the criminal procedure law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
DEVELOPING AN ADEQUATE PROCEDURE TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF FINGERPRINT
IDENTIFICATIONS IN ORDER TO PREVENT ERRONEOUS IDENTIFICATIONS BASED UPON
CLERICAL ERROR. PRIOR TO THE ARREST OF A DEFENDANT BASED UPON FINGER-
PRINT IDENTIFICATION EVIDENCE, TWO DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES OF THE DIVISION
OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES SHALL EACH VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF SUCH
FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION AND ACCOMPANYING INFORMATION ON RECORD AND
SHALL MAINTAIN A WRITTEN RECORD OF SUCH VERIFICATIONS.
S 2. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new section
160.35 to read as follows:
S 160.35 FINGERPRINTING; VERIFICATION HEARING.
UPON AN ARREST BASED ON FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION EVIDENCE, A DEFEND-
ANT MAY FILE A MOTION CHALLENGING SUCH IDENTIFICATION WITH A PREPONDER-
ANCE OF EVIDENCE AND MAY BE GRANTED AN IMMEDIATE HEARING IN THE LOCAL
CRIMINAL COURT FOR THE PURPOSE OF VERIFYING THE ACCURACY OF SUCH FINGER-
PRINT IDENTIFICATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF CLERICAL OR OTHER ERROR IN
SUCH IDENTIFICATION.
S 3. The division of criminal justice services shall make an annual
report to the state legislature and the state attorney general regarding
the accuracy and efficiency of the procedure developed pursuant to the
amendments made to section 160.30 of the criminal procedure law by
section one of this act. The report shall include a critical review of
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03280-01-5
A. 5032 2
such procedure, including but not limited to its efficiency, flaws and
the numbers of erroneous identifications.
S 4. This act shall take effect on the first of November next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.