NY State Senate Bill 2017-S6419

Senate Bill S6419

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Relates to establishing the civil rights restoration act and amends provisions of law regarding firearm licenses; repealer

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Codes Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2018	referred to codes
May 17, 2017	referred to codes

co-Sponsors

2017-S6419 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8909
Current Committee:: Senate Codes
Law Section:: Civil Rights Law
Laws Affected:: Add §79-o, Civ Rts L; amd §§400, 400.02 & 400.05, rpld §400.00 sub 11 ¶¶(b) & (c), sub 16-a ¶(c), sub 10 ¶(b), §400.03, Pen L; amd §898, Gen Bus L; rpld §9.46, amd §33.13, Ment Hyg L; rpld §837 sub 19, Exec L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S1174

2017-S6419 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to establishing the civil rights restoration act and amends provisions of law regarding firearm licenses and destruction of firearms; exempts certain individuals from providing photographs in order to obtain a firearm license; expands the definition of immediate family.

2017-S6419 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6419

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the civil rights law, in relation to
establishing the civil rights restoration act; to amend the penal law,
in relation to medical and/or clinical records and reporting for
purposes of firearm licenses, in relation to the destruction of
firearms, in relation to registration of sellers of ammunition, and in
relation to exempting certain individuals from having to provide a
photograph for firearm licensing purposes; to amend the general
business law, in relation to expanding the definition of immediate
family; to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to reporting;
repealing certain provisions of the penal law relating to firearms
licenses and sellers of ammunition; and repealing certain provisions
of the mental hygiene law and the executive law, relating to reporting
of substantial risk or threat of harm by mental health professionals

 PURPOSE :

This bill relates to establishing the "Civil Rights Restoration Act"
and amends provisions of law regarding firearm licenses.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one of this bill states the title of the legislation.

Section two of this bill codifies the basic due process rights of

persons seeking to exercise and protect their fundamental rights under
the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution in the context
of a handgun license hearing. This section also prohibits the
inappropriate use of clinical records and establishes penalties for
false reporting.

Section three of this bill removes from the statewide database, any
record reported pursuant to Mental Health Hygiene Law § 9.46
(repealed, herein).

Section four of this bill restores judicial discretion in the context
of the license hearing.

Section five of this bill requires law enforcement to be transparent
and accountable in their destruction of firearms.

Section six of this bill repeals the pistol permit recertification
program.

Section seven of this bill amends the definition of "immediate family"
to include parents, brothers, and sisters.

Section eight of this bill permits persons who have a genuine and
sincere religious belief to provide fingerprints, in lieu of
photographs, for the purposes of a background check.

Section nine of this bill repeals the seller of ammunition provision.

Section ten of this bill clarifies that a seller of ammunition is not
required to register with the division of the state police.

Section eleven of this bill repeals the MHL, § 9.46 reporting program
(also referred to as ISARS" or the "Integrated SAFE Act Reporting
System").

Section twelve of this bill revokes the transmission of data through
the ISARS database or under MI-IL § 9.46 (repealed herein) to the
division of criminal justice services.


Section thirteen of this bill revokes the transmission of data through
the ISARS database or under MI-IL § 9.46 (repealed herein) to the
director of community services.

Section fourteen of this bill requires the timely purge of data in the
ISARS database or under MHL § 9.46 (repealed herein).

Section fifteen of this bill provides a standard severability clause
that states if any part of this act is nullified by the courts, the
remainder of the act will not be affected, impaired or invalidated.

Section sixteen of this bill provides for an immediate effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

The SAFE Act has been surrounded by controversy since its enactment in
2013. The bill was passed with no time for public input or thoughtful
consideration by the Legislature. The provisions contained within the
SAFE Act, have been roundly criticized as an attack on Second
Amendment rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution.
Consequently, it is no surprise that key provisions of the SAFE Act
have not been implemented and court cases challenging its
constitutionality are still pending. While many agree more needs to be
done to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those suffering
from mental illness, the SAFE Act does not, and has not, addressed
these societal challenges but instead has targeted law-abiding
citizens who use firearms for sport and self-defense.

An important, unresolved issue within the SAFE Act is the identified
lack of due process for individuals facing potential confiscation of
their firearms. The current process lacks adequate notification and
review procedures that are commonly provided in many governmental
proceedings.

The sponsor of this legislation seeks to rebalance and conform the
rights of New York State citizens with their rights as United States
citizens. The "Civil Rights Restoration Act" clarifies and solidifies
rights to due process, equal protection, privacy, and property. It
does so by respecting and building upon the powerful civil rights
history of New York State. By reestablishing all New Yorkers' legal
rights to a hearing, counsel, and privacy of medical records, this
legislation will ensure that individual rights are protected through
deliberate exercise of due process.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

This act will save the State resources attributable to the enforcement
of the SAFE Act. With the enactment of this legislation, the State
will incur costs for the written notification of persons reported into
law enforcement databases, both past and for any on-going reporting.
It will also require funding for assigned counsel for indigent legal
services at pistol license hearings.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediately.

2017-S6419 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6419
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 17, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. AMEDORE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
 
 AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation  to  establishing  the
   civil  rights  restoration act; to amend the penal law, in relation to
   medical and/or clinical records and reporting for purposes of  firearm
   licenses,  in  relation to the destruction of firearms, in relation to
   registration of sellers of ammunition, and in  relation  to  exempting
   certain  individuals  from  having to provide a photograph for firearm
   licensing purposes; to amend the general business law, in relation  to
   expanding  the  definition  of  immediate  family; to amend the mental
   hygiene law, in relation to reporting; repealing certain provisions of
   the penal law relating to firearms licenses and sellers of ammunition;
   and repealing certain provisions of the mental  hygiene  law  and  the
   executive  law, relating to reporting of substantial risk or threat of
   harm by mental health professionals
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "civil rights restoration act".
   § 2. The civil rights law is amended by adding a new section  79-o  to
 read as follows:
   § 79-O. CIVIL RIGHTS RESTORATION. 1. IN ANY PROCEEDING THAT MAY IMPACT
 AN  INDIVIDUAL'S  RIGHTS UNDER THE SECOND AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES
 CONSTITUTION, OR ANY SIMILAR STATE  RIGHT,  INCLUDING  SUCH  PROCEEDINGS
 THAT  COULD  RESULT  IN  THE  LOSS  OF  A  LICENSE TO CARRY OR POSSESS A
 FIREARM:
   (A) NO COURT ORDER SHALL BE ISSUED NOR PROCEEDING BE COMMENCED  UNLESS
 ALL PLEADINGS OR OTHER ACCUSATORY INSTRUMENTS HAVE BEEN FILED AND SERVED
 IN  CONFORMITY  WITH ARTICLE THIRTY OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES,
 AND WHERE SUCH PLEADING INCLUDES AN ALLEGATION THAT THE  INDIVIDUAL  HAS
 BEEN  "INVOLUNTARILY  COMMITTED  TO A MENTAL INSTITUTION," SUCH PLEADING
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD08834-04-7

 S. 6419                             2
 
 SHALL INCLUDE AN ALLEGATION AS TO THE SAID COURT ORDER DATE  AND  JURIS-
 DICTION;
   (B) THE BURDEN OF PROOF IN SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL BE NO LESS THAN CLEAR
 AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE;
   (C)  INDIVIDUALS MAY EXAMINE THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF HIS OR HER FIREARM
 LICENSE RECORDS  CONSTRUCTED  BY  STATE  AND  LOCAL  LICENSING  AND  LAW
 ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES;
   (D) THERE SHALL BE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO ASSIGNED
 COUNSEL, IF COUNSEL CANNOT BE AFFORDED; AND
   (E)  ANY  FIREARMS CONFISCATED AND/OR SURRENDERED INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT
 EVIDENCE STATUS DURING SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL NOT  BE  DESTROYED,  UNLESS
 SPECIFICALLY  DIRECTED  THROUGH  A WRITTEN ORDER BY A COURT OF COMPETENT
 JURISDICTION AT  THE  CONCLUSION  OF  ALL  DISQUALIFICATION  PROCEEDINGS
 RELATING TO THE INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING ANY APPEALS UNDERTAKEN.
   2.  (A)  THERE  SHALL  BE  CONTEMPORANEOUS WRITTEN NOTIFICATION TO ALL
 INDIVIDUALS BEING REPORTED TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT  DATABASE  THAT  COULD
 RESULT  IN  THE  DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS TO OWN, POSSESS, OR USE A FIREARM
 AND/OR THE DEPRIVATION OF A LAWFULLY OWNED FIREARM, INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT
 LIMITED  TO, REPORTS UNDER FORMER SECTION 9.46 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW
 AND UNDER 18 USC § 922(G).
   (B) THERE SHALL BE WRITTEN NOTIFICATION TRANSMITTED WITHIN NINETY DAYS
 OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS  SECTION  TO  ALL  INDIVIDUALS  PREVIOUSLY
 REPORTED  INTO  ANY  LAW  ENFORCEMENT  DATABASE THAT COULD RESULT IN THE
 DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS TO OWN, POSSESS,  OR  USE  A  FIREARM  AND/OR  THE
 DEPRIVATION  OF A LAWFULLY OWNED FIREARM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 THE DATABASES MAINTAINED BY THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE DIVISION OF
 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, AND THE DIVISION OF STATE POLICE IN  CONJUNC-
 TION  WITH  REPORTS  MADE  UNDER  THE  FORMER SECTION 9.46 OF THE MENTAL
 HYGIENE LAW AND/OR UNDER 18 USC  §  922(G)(4),  AND  THAT  SUCH  WRITTEN
 NOTIFICATION  SHALL  INCLUDE NOTICE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MAY HAVE A RIGHT
 TO COMMENCE A PROCEEDING IN EITHER THE NEW YORK STATE SUPREME  COURT  OR
 COUNTY  COURT UNDER ARTICLE SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAWS AND
 RULES IF HE OR SHE BELIEVES THAT THE INFORMATION  CONTAINED  WITHIN  THE
 NOTIFICATION IS IN ERROR.
   (C)  ANY  INDIVIDUAL,  BUSINESS, OR GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIAL WHO, KNOWING
 THE INFORMATION REPORTED, CONVEYED OR CIRCULATED TO  BE  FALSE,  REPORTS
 THAT  A  PERSON  HAS BEEN INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A
 CIVIL FINE OF NOT MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS PER OFFENSE.
   (D) IN ANY PROCEEDING WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHES  THAT  A  REPORT
 THAT  HE OR SHE WAS INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED WAS FALSE, REASONABLE ATTOR-
 NEY'S FEES AND COSTS SHALL BE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE.
   (E) THE STATE SHALL CORRECT ANY FALSE OR INCORRECT REPORT  AGAINST  AN
 INDIVIDUAL  TO STATE AND FEDERAL DATABASES, INCLUDING THOSE UNDER 18 USC
 §922(G), WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF ENTRY AND SERVICE  UPON  THE  STATE  OF  A
 FINAL ORDER OF DISPOSITION IN A CASE. THE FAILURE OF THE STATE TO TIMELY
 DO SO SHALL BE PUNISHABLE AS A CONTEMPT OF COURT.
   (F)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, AN
 INDIVIDUAL'S MEDICAL AND/OR CLINICAL  RECORDS  SHALL  NOT  BE  USED  FOR
 ROUTINE  LAW  ENFORCEMENT REPORTING PURPOSES RELATIVE TO FIREARMS OWNER-
 SHIP, USE, POSSESSION, OR SUITABILITY.
   § 3. Section 400.02 of the penal law, as added by  chapter  1  of  the
 laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
 § 400.02 Statewide license and record database.
   There  shall be a statewide license and record database which shall be
 created and maintained by the division of state police the cost of which
 shall not be borne by any municipality. Records assembled  or  collected

 S. 6419                             3
 
 for  purposes  of  inclusion  in  such  database shall not be subject to
 disclosure pursuant to article six of the public officers law, EXCEPTING
 ANY NON-IDENTIFYING RECORDS SUCH AS EXISTING STATISTICAL TABULATIONS  OR
 THOSE  CAPABLE  OF  BEING  PERFORMED  OR SUCH RECORD RESPONSES AS CAN BE
 REASONABLY  SATISFIED  THROUGH  REDACTED  RESPONSE.  Records  containing
 granted  license applications shall be periodically checked by the divi-
 sion of criminal justice services against criminal  [conviction,  mental
 health,  and  all  other  records]  CONVICTIONS as [are] IS necessary to
 determine their continued accuracy as well as whether an  individual  is
 no  longer  a  valid  license  holder.  The division of criminal justice
 services shall also check pending applications  made  pursuant  to  this
 article  against  such  records  to  determine  whether a license may be
 granted. All state agencies shall cooperate with the division of  crimi-
 nal  justice  services,  as otherwise authorized by law, in making their
 records available for such checks.  The  division  of  criminal  justice
 services, upon determining that an individual is ineligible to possess a
 license, or is no longer a valid license holder, shall notify the appli-
 cable  licensing official of such determination and such licensing offi-
 cial shall not issue a license or revoke such license  and  any  weapons
 owned  or  possessed by such individual shall be removed consistent with
 the provisions of subdivision eleven of section 400.00 of this  article.
 Local  and  state law enforcement shall have access to such database, as
 otherwise authorized by law, in the performance of their duties. Records
 assembled or collected for purposes of inclusion in the database  estab-
 lished by this section shall be released pursuant to a court order.
   §  4.  Paragraph  (b) of subdivision 11 of section 400.00 of the penal
 law is REPEALED.
   § 5. Section 400.05 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi-
 vision 7 to read as follows:
   7. WHENEVER ANY MACHINE-GUN OR FIREARM IS DESTROYED PURSUANT TO SUBDI-
 VISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, ALL STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
 SHALL PUBLISH ON THEIR WEBSITE, ON AN  ANNUAL  BASIS,  AN  INVENTORY  OF
 EVERY  MACHINE-GUN  OR FIREARM THAT IS DESTROYED, INCLUDING THE CALIBER,
 MAKE, MODEL, MANUFACTURER'S NAME, SERIAL NUMBER, OR IF NONE,  ANY  OTHER
 DISTINGUISHING  NUMBER  OR  IDENTIFICATION  MARK  OF  THE MACHINE-GUN OR
 FIREARM, AND IF APPLICABLE, THE JURISDICTION AND DATE OF THE COURT ORDER
 DIRECTING THE  SURRENDER  AND/OR  DESTRUCTION  OF  SUCH  MACHINE-GUN  OR
 FIREARM.
   §  6.  Paragraph  (c) of subdivisions 11 and 16-a and paragraph (b) of
 subdivision 10 of section 400.00 of the penal law are REPEALED.
   § 7. Subdivision 1 of section 898 of  the  general  business  law,  as
 added by chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  In addition to any other requirements pursuant to state and feder-
 al  law,  all sales, exchanges or disposals of firearms, rifles or shot-
 guns shall be conducted in accordance  with  this  section  unless  such
 sale, exchange or disposal is conducted by a licensed importer, licensed
 manufacturer  or licensed dealer, as those terms are defined in 18 USC §
 922, when such sale, exchange or disposal is conducted pursuant to  that
 person's  federal firearms license or such sale, exchange or disposal is
 between members of an immediate family. For purposes  of  this  section,
 "immediate  family"  shall  mean  spouses,  domestic  partners, PARENTS,
 BROTHERS, SISTERS, children and step-children.
   § 8. Subdivision 17 of section 400.00 of the penal law  is  renumbered
 subdivision 18 and a new subdivision 17 is added to read as follows:
   17.  APPLICANTS  WHO  HAVE A GENUINE AND SINCERE RELIGIOUS BELIEF, WHO
 HAVE PROVIDED FINGERPRINTS  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION,  SHALL  NOT  BE

 S. 6419                             4
 
 REQUIRED  TO  PROVIDE  PHOTOGRAPHS  OF  THEMSELVES  IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A
 LICENSE AS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION.
   § 9. Section 400.03 of the penal law is REPEALED.
   §  10.  Subdivision 16-a of section 400.00 of the penal law is amended
 by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
   (C) THE DIVISION OF STATE POLICE SHALL NOT REQUIRE THE REGISTRATION OF
 A SELLER OF AMMUNITION, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TWENTY-FOUR OF SECTION
 265.00 OF THIS CHAPTER, IN ORDER FOR SUCH SELLER OF AMMUNITION TO  OPER-
 ATE HIS OR HER BUSINESS.
   § 11. Section 9.46 of the mental hygiene law is REPEALED.
   § 12. Subdivision 19 of section 837 of the executive law is REPEALED.
   §  13.  Paragraph 12 of subdivision (c) of section 33.13 of the mental
 hygiene law, as amended by chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended  to
 read as follows:
   12.  to a director of community services as defined in article nine of
 this chapter or his or her designee, provided that such director or  his
 or  her  designee [(i)] requests such information in the exercise of his
 or her statutory functions, powers and duties pursuant to section  9.37,
 9.45, 9.47, 9.48, 9.60 or 41.13 of this chapter[; or (ii) the disclosure
 of information is required pursuant to section 9.46 of this chapter].
   § 14. One year after the completion of transmission of notification of
 all  individuals pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision two of section
 79-o of the civil rights law, as added by section two of this  act,  all
 offices  and agencies in use or possession of reports required under the
 former section 9.46 of the mental  hygiene  law  shall  purge  all  such
 information.
   §  15.  Severability. If any provision of this act, or the application
 thereof to any person or circumstance, shall be adjudged by any court of
 competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such  judgment
 shall  not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall
 be confined in its operation to the provision of this  act,  or  in  its
 application  to  the  person  or  circumstance, directly involved in the
 controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
   § 16. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S6419

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Sponsored By

George Amedore