S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1607
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 17, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ANDERSON, REYES, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, SIMON, FORREST
-- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the
office of expungement within the division of criminal justice services
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 837-x
to read as follows:
§ 837-X. OFFICE OF EXPUNGEMENT. 1. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THE
SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "ELIGIBLE CONVICTION" SHALL MEAN A CONVICTION WHICH IS ELIGIBLE TO
BE SEALED AND/OR EXPUNGED UNDER SECTION 160.50, 160.55, 160.57, 160.58
OR 160.59 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW.
(B) "OFFICE" SHALL MEAN THE OFFICE OF EXPUNGEMENT AS ESTABLISHED BY
THIS SECTION.
2. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE
DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES THE OFFICE OF EXPUNGEMENT WHICH
SHALL OVERSEE THE SEALING AND/OR EXPUNGEMENT OF ALL ELIGIBLE
CONVICTIONS.
3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. THE OFFICE SHALL:
(A) INFORM THE DEFENDANT AND SUCH DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEY THAT AN ELIGI-
BLE CONVICTION CAN BE SEALED AND/OR EXPUNGED;
(B) ENSURE ALL ELIGIBLE CONVICTIONS ARE SEALED AND/OR EXPUNGED ACCU-
RATELY AND IN A TIMELY MANNER;
(C) ACT AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WITH ELIGIBLE CONVICTIONS TO GET SUCH
CONVICTIONS SEALED AND/OR EXPUNGED;
(D) ADVISE THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE ON THE IMPACT OF HAVING
ELIGIBLE CONVICTIONS SEALED AND/OR EXPUNGED; AND
(E) DEVELOP STANDARDS, GUIDELINES, AND BEST PRACTICES FOR ENSURING
ACCURATE AND TIMELY SEALING AND/OR EXPUNGEMENT OF ELIGIBLE CONVICTIONS.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03159-01-3
A. 1607 2
4. OTHER STATE AGENCIES SHALL PROVIDE COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE TO
THE OFFICE SO AS TO ASSIST IT IN THE EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE OF ITS
DUTIES.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
manner as a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending the criminal procedure
law, the executive law and the correction law, in relation to automatic
sealing of certain convictions, as proposed in legislative bill number
S. 211, takes effect.