Senate Bill S5420

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5420

SPONSOR: LANZA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the penal law, in relation to public lewdness in the
first degree

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Creates public lewdness in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 245.03 of the Penal law is amended.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Public lewdness involves intentionally exposing the private or intimate
parts of one's body in a lewd manner in a public place or in a private
place under circumstances in which he may be readily to be observed.
              

Public lewdness offenses can lead to serious consequences and cause
enduring trauma for those who find themselves victim to it.  Offenders
often aim their public lewdness at minors and at women, and law enforce-
ment officials have indicated that perpetrators often have a long histo-
ry, of such acts and of other sex crimes. Therefore, it is important to
appropriately punish and deter serial offenders with higher penalties
for multiple offenses of public lewdness. Right now, under state law
public lewdness is only a B misdemeanor, regardless of how often a
person re-offends. It is important to raise this penalty to an A misde-
meanor for multiple offenses.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024: S.4117 - Referred to Codes

2023: S.4117 - Referred to Codes

2022: S.4633 - Referred to Codes

2021: S.4633 - Referred to Codes

2020: S.1774 - Referred to Codes

2019: S.1774 - Referred to Codes

2018: S.6190 - Referred to Codes

2017: S.6190 - Referred to Codes

2016: S.4510 - Referred to Codes

2015: S.4510 - Referred to Codes

2014: S.4829 - Referred to Codes / A.6770A - Referred to Codes

2013: S.4829 - Passed Senate / A.6770A - Recommit to Codes

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of November after it shall
become law.