Senate Republicans decry blocked legislation they say would make public safer

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – Today, Senate Democrats on the Senate Codes Committee voted to reject a series of key criminal justice bills proposed by Senate Republicans, preventing them from advancing to the Senate floor for a full vote.

The bills opposed by Senate Democrats include proposals designed to crack down on animal cruelty, arson, illegal drugs, vehicular assault, manslaughter and homicide committed while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. With these votes, the Senate Majority has once again demonstrated a shocking lack of concern for the public safety of the very people they are elected to represent.

The Senate Republican Conference remains focused on restoring common sense to the criminal justice system and ensuring safer streets for all New Yorkers. Instead of supporting this effort, Senate Democrats have continued to advance and defend a failed criminal justice “reform agenda” that puts the needs and concerns of criminals above those of law-abiding citizens.

“It was shocking to see several common sense criminal justice measures defeated in today’s Codes Committee, including Andrew’s Law, which would increase penalties for those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These bills would have made the state safer and provided greater protections for law abiding citizens. Today’s Committee vote is a clear indication that Senate Democrats are unmoved by New Yorkers’ concerns over rising crime rates and their demand for greater public protections,” said Senator Anthony Palumbo, Ranking Member of the Committee on Codes.

“These bills represent common sense initiatives aimed at keeping New York residents safe and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The legislature has an obligation to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens and crime victims. Rejecting these proposals sends the wrong message to the people we represent,” said Senator Patrick Gallivan, member of the Committee on Codes.

The list of bills that were voted down by Democrats in the Codes Committee is a prime example of how they continue to dismiss policies that ensure safety and quality of life in our communities:

• S.236 (Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick) – An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to setting bail for defendants that pose a threat to public safety. – Defeated 4-9
• S.307 (Rhoads) – An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to authorizing bail for certain felony offenses involving the manufacture, sale, distribution, or possession with intent to sell synthetic opioids. – Defeated 4-9
• S.1041 (Palumbo) – An act to amend the penal law, the vehicle and traffic law and the criminal procedure law, in relation to arrest, prosecution, sentencing and penalties for offenses involving vehicular assault, manslaughter and homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. – Defeated 4-9
• S.1748 (Oberacker) – An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to securing orders for principals charged with arson felony offenses. – Defeated 4-9
• S.2282A (Helming) – An act to amend the executive law and the criminal procedure law, in relation to enacting the “pretrial risk overview for threat evaluation, custody, and treatment (PROTECT) act” and establishing a risk assessment instrument to evaluate certain defendants; and to repeal certain provisions of the criminal procedure law relating thereto. – Defeated 5-8
• S.3511 (Borrello) – An act to amend the penal law, in relation to increasing the maximum sentence of imprisonment for certain misdemeanors to one year; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto. – Defeated 4-9
• S.1648 (Oberacker) – An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to authorizing bail for principals charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. – Defeated 4-9