Senate Bill S6664

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Relates to the justification for the use of force in a homicide by a peace officer or police officer

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Sponsored By

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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2019-S6664 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A9656
Current Committee:
Senate Codes
Law Section:
Penal Law
Laws Affected:
Add §§35.35 & 35.40, Pen L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2021-2022: S2983, A2390
2023-2024: S7272, A1308

2019-S6664 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the justification for the use of force in a homicide by a peace officer or police officer.

2019-S6664 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2019-S6664 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6664
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              August 21, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the justification for  the
   use of force in a homicide by a peace officer or police officer
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding two new  sections  35.35
 and 35.40 to read as follows:
 §  35.35  JUSTIFICATION; USE OF FORCE BY A PEACE OFFICER OR POLICE OFFI-
            CER.
   HOMICIDE IS JUSTIFIABLE WHEN COMMITTED BY A PEACE  OFFICER  OR  POLICE
 OFFICER  AND  THOSE ACTING BY THEIR COMMAND IN THEIR AID AND ASSISTANCE,
 UNDER EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:
   1. IN OBEDIENCE TO ANY JUDGMENT OF A COMPETENT COURT; OR
   2. WHEN THE HOMICIDE RESULTS FROM A PEACE OFFICER'S  OR  POLICE  OFFI-
 CER'S  USE  OF  FORCE  THAT  IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 35.40 OF THIS
 ARTICLE.
 § 35.40 JUSTIFICATION; USE OF FORCE BY A PEACE OFFICER OR POLICE OFFICER
            REQUIREMENTS.
   1. THE LEGISLATURE FINDS AND DECLARES ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) THAT THE AUTHORITY TO USE PHYSICAL FORCE, CONFERRED ON PEACE OFFI-
 CERS OR POLICE OFFICERS BY THIS SECTION,  IS  A  SERIOUS  RESPONSIBILITY
 THAT  SHALL  BE  EXERCISED JUDICIOUSLY AND WITH RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
 AND DIGNITY AND FOR THE SANCTITY OF EVERY HUMAN  LIFE.  THE  LEGISLATURE
 FURTHER FINDS AND DECLARES THAT EVERY PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM
 EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE BY OFFICERS ACTING UNDER COLOR OF LAW.
   (B)  AS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION, IT IS THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE
 THAT PEACE OFFICERS OR POLICE OFFICERS USE DEADLY FORCE ONLY WHEN NECES-
 SARY IN DEFENSE OF HUMAN LIFE. IN DETERMINING WHETHER  DEADLY  FORCE  IS
 NECESSARY,  OFFICERS  SHALL  EVALUATE  EACH  SITUATION  IN  LIGHT OF THE
 PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CASE  AND  SHALL  USE  OTHER  AVAILABLE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

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