S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9705
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 2, 2018
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BARNWELL -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to limiting the extreme
emotional disturbance affirmative defense
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 125.25 of the
penal law, as amended by chapter 791 of the laws of 1967, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The defendant acted under the influence of extreme emotional
disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse, the
reasonableness of which is to be determined from the viewpoint of a
person in the defendant's situation under the circumstances as the
defendant believed them to be, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, IT SHALL NOT BE AN
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE THAT THE DEFENDANT ACTED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
EXTREME EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE UPON THE DISCOVERY, KNOWLEDGE OR DISCLO-
SURE OF THE VICTIM'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION, SEX, GENDER OR SEX ASSIGNED AT
BIRTH. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall constitute a defense
to a prosecution for, or preclude a conviction of, manslaughter in the
first degree or any other crime; or
§ 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 125.26 of the penal
law, as added by chapter 765 of the laws of 2005 and such subdivision as
renumbered by chapter 482 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as
follows:
(a) The defendant acted under the influence of extreme emotional
disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse, the
reasonableness of which is to be determined from the viewpoint of a
person in the defendant's situation under the circumstances as the
defendant believed them to be, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, IT SHALL NOT BE AN
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE THAT THE DEFENDANT ACTED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
EXTREME EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE UPON THE DISCOVERY, KNOWLEDGE OR DISCLO-
SURE OF THE VICTIM'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION, SEX, GENDER OR SEX ASSIGNED AT
BIRTH. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall constitute a defense
to a prosecution for, or preclude a conviction of, aggravated
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14569-02-8
A. 9705 2
manslaughter in the first degree, manslaughter in the first degree or
any other crime except murder in the second degree; or
§ 3. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 125.27 of the penal
law, as added by chapter 367 of the laws of 1974, is amended to read as
follows:
(a) The defendant acted under the influence of extreme emotional
disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse, the
reasonableness of which is to be determined from the viewpoint of a
person in the defendant's situation under the circumstances as the
defendant believed them to be, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, IT SHALL NOT BE AN
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE THAT THE DEFENDANT ACTED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
EXTREME EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE UPON THE DISCOVERY, KNOWLEDGE OR DISCLO-
SURE OF THE VICTIM'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION, SEX, GENDER OR SEX ASSIGNED AT
BIRTH. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall constitute a defense
to a prosecution for, or preclude a conviction of, manslaughter in the
first degree or any other crime except murder in the second degree; or
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.