Assembly Bill A8951

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Establishes the crime of unlawful use of violence or intimidation in pursuit of political aims; blocking of a public road, bridge, transportation facility or tunnel

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Assembly 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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Bill Amendments

2023-A8951 - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Codes
Law Section:
Penal Law
Laws Affected:
Add §490.29, Pen L

2023-A8951 - Summary

Establishes the crime of unlawful use of violence or intimidation in pursuit of political aims; includes blocking of a public road, bridge, transportation facility or tunnel as when, acting with the intent to cause the deliberate blocking of every class of a public road, bridge, transportation facility or tunnel that interferes with traffic and public safety; makes such crime a class A misdemeanor.

2023-A8951 - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8951
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 30, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. PHEFFER AMATO -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Codes
 
 AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing the crime  of
   domestic act of terrorism; blocking of a public road, bridge or tunnel
 
   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 a new section 490.29  to
 read as follows:
 § 490.29 DOMESTIC ACT OF TERRORISM; BLOCKING OF A PUBLIC ROAD, BRIDGE OR
           TUNNEL.
   A PERSON IS GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF DOMESTIC ACT OF TERRORISM; BLOCKING
 OF A PUBLIC ROAD, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL WHEN SUCH PERSON ACTS WITH THE INTENT
 TO CAUSE THE DELIBERATE BLOCKING OF EVERY CLASS OF A PUBLIC ROAD, BRIDGE
 OR TUNNEL THAT INTERFERES WITH TRAFFIC AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
   FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "PUBLIC ROAD" SHALL INCLUDE
 A  STREET,  AVENUE,  ROAD,  ALLEY,  LANE, HIGHWAY, BOULEVARD, CONCOURSE,
 PARKWAY, DRIVEWAY, CULVERT, SIDEWALK, CROSSWALK, BOARDWALK AND  VIADUCT,
 AND EVERY CLASS OF PUBLIC ROAD, SQUARE AND PLACE.
   DOMESTIC ACT OF TERRORISM; BLOCKING OF A PUBLIC ROAD, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL
 IS A CLASS D FELONY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14088-01-4

co-Sponsors

2023-A8951A - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Codes
Law Section:
Penal Law
Laws Affected:
Add §490.29, Pen L

2023-A8951A - Summary

Establishes the crime of unlawful use of violence or intimidation in pursuit of political aims; includes blocking of a public road, bridge, transportation facility or tunnel as when, acting with the intent to cause the deliberate blocking of every class of a public road, bridge, transportation facility or tunnel that interferes with traffic and public safety; makes such crime a class A misdemeanor.

2023-A8951A - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8951--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 30, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. PHEFFER AMATO -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Codes --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing the crime of
   domestic act of terrorism; blocking of a public road,  bridge,  trans-
   portation facility or tunnel

   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 a new section 490.29  to
 read as follows:
 § 490.29 DOMESTIC  ACT  OF TERRORISM; BLOCKING OF A PUBLIC ROAD, BRIDGE,
            TRANSPORTATION FACILITY OR TUNNEL.
   1. A PERSON IS GUILTY OF THE  CRIME  OF  DOMESTIC  ACT  OF  TERRORISM;
 BLOCKING  OF  A  PUBLIC  ROAD, BRIDGE, TRANSPORTATION FACILITY OR TUNNEL
 WHEN SUCH PERSON ACTS WITH THE INTENT TO CAUSE THE  DELIBERATE  BLOCKING
 OF  EVERY  CLASS  OF  A  PUBLIC ROAD, BRIDGE, TRANSPORTATION FACILITY OR
 TUNNEL THAT INTERFERES WITH TRAFFIC AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING  TERMS  SHALL  HAVE
 THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A)  "PUBLIC  ROAD" SHALL INCLUDE A STREET, AVENUE, ROAD, ALLEY, LANE,
 HIGHWAY, BOULEVARD, CONCOURSE,  PARKWAY,  DRIVEWAY,  CULVERT,  SIDEWALK,
 CROSSWALK, BOARDWALK AND VIADUCT, AND EVERY CLASS OF PUBLIC ROAD, SQUARE
 AND PLACE.
   (B) "TRANSPORTATION FACILITY" MEANS ANY CONVEYANCE, PREMISES, OR PLACE
 USED  FOR OR IN CONNECTION WITH PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER
 BY AIR, RAILROAD, MOTOR VEHICLE  OR  ANY  OTHER  METHOD.    IT  INCLUDES
 AIRCRAFT, WATERCRAFT, RAILROAD CARS, SUBWAY CARS, BUSES, SCHOOL BUSES AS
 DEFINED IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW,
 AND  AIR,  BOAT, SUBWAY, RAILROAD AND BUS TERMINALS AND STATIONS AND ALL
 APPURTENANCES THERETO.
   DOMESTIC ACT OF TERRORISM; BLOCKING OF A PUBLIC ROAD,  BRIDGE,  TRANS-
 PORTATION FACILITY OR TUNNEL IS A CLASS D FELONY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14088-02-4

co-Sponsors

2023-A8951B (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Codes
Law Section:
Penal Law
Laws Affected:
Add §490.29, Pen L

2023-A8951B (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the crime of unlawful use of violence or intimidation in pursuit of political aims; includes blocking of a public road, bridge, transportation facility or tunnel as when, acting with the intent to cause the deliberate blocking of every class of a public road, bridge, transportation facility or tunnel that interferes with traffic and public safety; makes such crime a class A misdemeanor.

2023-A8951B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8951--B
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 30, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. PHEFFER AMATO, BERGER, BUTTENSCHON, DINOWITZ --
   read once  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Codes  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to  said  committee  --  committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing the crime  of
   unlawful use of violence or intimidation in pursuit of political aims;
   blocking of a public road, bridge, transportation facility or tunnel
 
   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 a new section 270.45  to
 read as follows:
 §  270.45  UNLAWFUL  USE OF VIOLENCE OR INTIMIDATION IN PURSUIT OF POLI-
            TICAL AIMS; BLOCKING OF A PUBLIC ROAD, BRIDGE, TRANSPORTATION
            FACILITY OR TUNNEL.
   1. A PERSON IS GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF  UNLAWFUL  USE  OF  VIOLENCE  OR
 INTIMIDATION  IN  PURSUIT  OF POLITICAL AIMS; BLOCKING OF A PUBLIC ROAD,
 BRIDGE, TRANSPORTATION FACILITY OR TUNNEL WHEN SUCH PERSON ACTS WITH THE
 INTENT TO CAUSE THE DELIBERATE BLOCKING OF EVERY CLASS OF A PUBLIC ROAD,
 BRIDGE, TRANSPORTATION FACILITY OR TUNNEL THAT INTERFERES  WITH  TRAFFIC
 AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
   2.  FOR  THE  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE
 THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "PUBLIC ROAD" SHALL INCLUDE A STREET, AVENUE, ROAD,  ALLEY,  LANE,
 HIGHWAY,  BOULEVARD,  CONCOURSE,  PARKWAY,  DRIVEWAY, CULVERT, SIDEWALK,
 CROSSWALK, BOARDWALK AND VIADUCT, AND EVERY CLASS OF PUBLIC ROAD, SQUARE
 AND PLACE.
   (B) "TRANSPORTATION FACILITY" MEANS ANY CONVEYANCE, PREMISES, OR PLACE
 USED FOR OR IN CONNECTION WITH PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION,  WHETHER
 BY  AIR,  RAILROAD,  MOTOR  VEHICLE  OR  ANY OTHER METHOD.   IT INCLUDES
 AIRCRAFT, WATERCRAFT, RAILROAD CARS, SUBWAY CARS, BUSES, SCHOOL BUSES AS
 DEFINED IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW,
 AND AIR, BOAT, SUBWAY, RAILROAD AND BUS TERMINALS AND STATIONS  AND  ALL
 APPURTENANCES THERETO.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

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