S05905 Summary:

BILL NOS05905
 
SAME ASNo same as
 
SPONSORRULES
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Rpld SS265.37 & 400.03, S265.20 7-f, amd SS265.02, 265.00, 265.20, 400.00, 265.36 & 470.00, Pen L; amd S898, Gen Bus L; amd S2509, SCPA; amd S837, Exec L; amd SS9.46, 33.13 & 9.60; amd S18, Pub Health L
 
Relates to firearms; relates to the evaluation and reporting of persons who present a serious and imminent threat to the health and safety of self or others.
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S05905 Actions:

BILL NOS05905
 
06/21/2013REFERRED TO RULES
01/08/2014REFERRED TO CODES
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S05905 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          5905
 
                               2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                      June 21, 2013
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- read twice and ordered printed, and
          when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
        AN ACT to amend the penal law, the general business law and  the  surro-
          gate's  court procedure act, in relation to firearms; and to amend the
          executive law, the mental hygiene law, the penal law  and  the  public

          health law, in relation to the evaluation and reporting of persons who
          present a serious and imminent threat to the health and safety of self
          or  others; and to repeal certain provisions of the penal law relating
          thereto
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Section 265.37 of the penal law is REPEALED.
     2    §  2.  Subdivision 8 of section 265.02 of the penal law, as amended by
     3  chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
     4    (8) Such person possesses a large capacity ammunition feeding  device.
     5  For  purposes  of  this subdivision, a large capacity ammunition feeding
     6  device shall not include an ammunition feeding device lawfully possessed
     7  by such person before the effective date of [the]  chapter  one  of  the

     8  laws  of two thousand thirteen [which amended this subdivision, that has
     9  a capacity of, or that can be readily restored or  converted  to  accept
    10  more  than seven but less than eleven rounds of ammunition, or] that was
    11  manufactured before September thirteenth, nineteen hundred  ninety-four,
    12  that  has a capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to
    13  accept, more than ten rounds of ammunition; or
    14    § 3. Subdivision 23 of section 265.00 of the penal law, as amended  by
    15  chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
    16    23. "Large capacity ammunition feeding device" means a magazine, belt,
    17  drum,  feed  strip,  or similar device, that [(a)] has a capacity of, or
    18  that can be readily restored or  converted  to  accept,  more  than  ten

    19  rounds of ammunition[, or (b) contains more than seven rounds of ammuni-
    20  tion,  or (c) is obtained after the effective date of the chapter of the

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD11265-06-3

        S. 5905                             2

     1  laws of two thousand thirteen which amended this subdivision and  has  a
     2  capacity  of,  or  that  can be readily restored or converted to accept,
     3  more than seven rounds of ammunition]; provided, however, that such term
     4  does  not  include  an  attached  tubular device designed to accept, and
     5  capable of operating only with, .22  caliber  rimfire  ammunition  or  a

     6  feeding  device  that  is  a curio or relic.  A feeding device that is a
     7  curio or relic is defined as a device that (i) was manufactured at least
     8  fifty years prior to the current date, (ii) is  only  capable  of  being
     9  used  exclusively  in a firearm, rifle, or shotgun that was manufactured
    10  at least fifty years prior to the current date, but not including repli-
    11  cas thereof, (iii) is possessed by an individual who is  not  prohibited
    12  by state or federal law from possessing a firearm and (iv) is registered
    13  with  the  division of state police pursuant to subdivision sixteen-a of
    14  section 400.00 of this chapter, except such feeding devices  transferred
    15  into  the  state may be registered at any time, provided they are regis-
    16  tered within thirty days of their transfer into the state. Notwithstand-
    17  ing paragraph (h) of subdivision twenty-two of this section, such  feed-

    18  ing  devices  may  be  transferred  provided that such transfer shall be
    19  subject to the provisions of section 400.03 of  this  chapter  including
    20  the check required to be conducted pursuant to such section.
    21    § 4. Subdivision 24 of section 265.00 of the penal law is REPEALED and
    22  a new subdivision 24 is added to read as follows:
    23    24.  "Qualified  retired  New York or federal law enforcement officer"
    24  means an individual who is a retired police officer as police officer is
    25  defined in subdivision thirty-four  of  section  1.20  of  the  criminal
    26  procedure  law,  a  retired peace officer as peace officer is defined in
    27  section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law  or  a  retired  federal  law
    28  enforcement  officer  as  federal  law enforcement officer is defined in

    29  section 2.15 of the criminal procedure  law,  who:  (a)  separated  from
    30  service  in  good  standing  from an agency located in New York state in
    31  which such person served as either a police officer,  peace  officer  or
    32  federal  law  enforcement  officer;  and (b) (i) before such separation,
    33  served as either a police officer, peace officer or federal law enforce-
    34  ment officer for five years or more and at the time  of  separation,  is
    35  such  an officer; or (ii) separated from service with such agency, after
    36  completing any applicable probationary period of such  service,  due  to
    37  service-connected  disability, as determined by such agency; and (c) (i)
    38  has not been found by a qualified medical professional employed by  such

    39  agency  to be unqualified for reasons relating to mental health; or (ii)
    40  has not entered into an agreement with such agency from which the  indi-
    41  vidual  is separating from service in which that individual acknowledges
    42  he or she is not qualified under this section for  reasons  relating  to
    43  mental health; and (d) is not otherwise prohibited by New York or feder-
    44  al law from possessing any firearm.
    45    § 5. Section 265.20 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi-
    46  vision e to read as follows:
    47    e.  Subdivision  eight  of  section  265.02 and section 265.36 of this
    48  chapter shall not apply to a qualified retired New York or  federal  law
    49  enforcement  officer  as  defined  in subdivision twenty-four of section

    50  265.00 of this article, with respect to large capacity ammunition  feed-
    51  ing  devices  issued to such officer or purchased by such officer in the
    52  course of his or her official duties and owned by such  officer  at  the
    53  time  of  his  or her retirement or replacements for such devices if the
    54  former agency of the individual has qualified such officer in the use of
    55  the weapon which accepts such device within twelve months before his  or
    56  her  retirement,  or if such officer retired prior to the effective date

        S. 5905                             3
 
     1  of the chapter of the laws of two  thousand  thirteen  that  added  this
     2  subdivision  if the former agency of the individual qualifies such offi-

     3  cer in the use of the weapon which accepts  such  device  within  twelve
     4  months of such effective date.
     5    § 6. Subdivision 16-a of section 400.00 of the penal law is amended by
     6  adding a new paragraph (a-1) to read as follows:
     7    (a-1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivi-
     8  sion to the contrary, an owner of an assault weapon as defined in subdi-
     9  vision  twenty-two of section 265.00 of this chapter, who is a qualified
    10  retired New York or federal law enforcement officer as defined in subdi-
    11  vision twenty-four of section 265.00 of this chapter, where such  weapon
    12  was  issued  to or purchased by such officer in the course of his or her
    13  official duties, and for which such officer was qualified by his or  her

    14  former  agency within twelve months prior to his or her retirement, must
    15  register such weapon within sixty days of retirement.
    16    § 7. Subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal law  is  amended  by
    17  adding a new paragraph 17 to read as follows:
    18    17.  Possession  of  a  large  capacity ammunition feeding device by a
    19  private investigator, bail enforcement agent,  or  watchmen,  guards  or
    20  private  patrolmen  employed by a watch guard or patrol agency, licensed
    21  pursuant to article seven of the general business  law,  or  a  security
    22  guard  as defined under paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of subdivision six of
    23  section eighty-nine-f of the general business law, and registered pursu-
    24  ant to article seven-A of the general business law, or  an  armored  car

    25  guard  as defined in subdivision eight of section eighty-nine-ppp of the
    26  general business law, if such person  is  duly  licensed  to  possess  a
    27  pistol or revolver pursuant to section 400.00 or 400.01 of this chapter,
    28  and  is  authorized  by  his  or  her  employer to access a firearm when
    29  performing his or her duties.
    30    § 8. The first and second undesignated paragraphs of section 265.36 of
    31  the penal law are designated subdivisions 1 and 2 and a new  subdivision
    32  3 is added to read as follows:
    33    3.  The  provisions of this section do not apply to a private investi-
    34  gator, bail enforcement agent, or watchmen, guards or private  patrolmen
    35  employed by a watch guard or patrol agency, licensed pursuant to article

    36  seven  of the general business law, or a security guard as defined under
    37  paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of subdivision six of  section  eighty-nine-f
    38  of  the general business law, and registered pursuant to article seven-A
    39  of the general business law, or an  armored  car  guard  as  defined  in
    40  subdivision  eight  of  section  eighty-nine-ppp of the general business
    41  law, if such person is duly licensed to possess  a  pistol  or  revolver
    42  pursuant  to  section 400.00 or 400.01 of this chapter, is authorized by
    43  his or her employer to access a  firearm  when  performing  his  or  her
    44  duties, during the performance of those duties.
    45    §  9.  The opening paragraph of subdivision a of section 265.20 of the
    46  penal law, as amended by section 1 of part FF of chapter 57 of the  laws

    47  of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
    48    Paragraph (h) of subdivision twenty-two of section 265.00 and sections
    49  265.01,  265.01-a,  subdivision one of section 265.01-b, 265.02, 265.03,
    50  265.04, 265.05, 265.10, 265.11, 265.12, 265.13, 265.15, 265.36[, 265.37]
    51  and 270.05 shall not apply to:
    52    § 10. Paragraph 7-f of subdivision a of section 265.20  of  the  penal
    53  law is REPEALED.
    54    § 11. Section 400.03 of the penal law is REPEALED.
    55    §  12.  Subdivision  1  of section 898 of the general business law, as
    56  added by chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:

        S. 5905                             4
 
     1    1.  In addition to any other requirements pursuant to state and feder-
     2  al law, all sales, exchanges or disposals of firearms, rifles  or  shot-

     3  guns  shall  be  conducted  in  accordance with this section unless such
     4  sale, exchange or disposal is conducted by a licensed importer, licensed
     5  manufacturer  or licensed dealer, as those terms are defined in 18 USC §
     6  [922] 921, when such sale, exchange or disposal is conducted pursuant to
     7  that person's  federal  firearms  license  or  such  sale,  exchange  or
     8  disposal is between members of an immediate family. For purposes of this
     9  section, "immediate family" shall mean spouses, domestic partners, chil-
    10  dren and step-children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren.
    11    §  13. Subdivision 5 of section 400.00 of the penal law, as amended by
    12  chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
    13    5. Filing of approved applications.  [(a)]  The  application  for  any

    14  license,  if  granted,  shall be filed by the licensing officer with the
    15  clerk of the county of issuance, except that in the  city  of  New  York
    16  and,  in the counties of Nassau and Suffolk, the licensing officer shall
    17  designate the place of filing in the  appropriate  division,  bureau  or
    18  unit  of the police department thereof, and in the county of Suffolk the
    19  county clerk is hereby authorized to transfer all  records  or  applica-
    20  tions  relating  to  firearms to the licensing authority of that county.
    21  [Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (f) of  this  subdivision,
    22  the  name  and  address]  The  application  and  any supporting records,
    23  including any information contained therein, of any person  to  whom  an
    24  application  for  any  license  has  been  granted shall not be a public

    25  record and shall not be subject to disclosure pursuant to article six of
    26  the public officers law.  Upon application by a licensee who has changed
    27  his place of residence such records or applications shall be transferred
    28  to the appropriate officer at the licensee's new place of  residence.  A
    29  duplicate copy of such application shall be filed by the licensing offi-
    30  cer in the executive department, division of state police, Albany, with-
    31  in  ten  days after issuance of the license. The superintendent of state
    32  police may designate that such application shall be transmitted  to  the
    33  division of state police electronically. In the event the superintendent
    34  of  the  division  of  state  police determines that it lacks any of the
    35  records required to be filed with the division, it may request that such
    36  records be provided to  it  by  the  appropriate  clerk,  department  or

    37  authority  and  such  clerk,  department  or authority shall provide the
    38  division with such records. In  the  event  such  clerk,  department  or
    39  authority lacks such records, the division may request the license hold-
    40  er  provide  information  sufficient  to constitute such record and such
    41  license holder shall provide the division with  such  information.  Such
    42  information  shall  be  limited  to  the  license holder's name, date of
    43  birth, gender, race, residential address,  social  security  number  and
    44  firearms  possessed  by said license holder. Nothing in this subdivision
    45  shall be construed to  change  the  expiration  date  or  term  of  such
    46  licenses  if  otherwise  provided  for  in  law.  Records  assembled  or
    47  collected for purposes of inclusion in the database established by  this
    48  section  shall  be released pursuant to a court order. Records assembled

    49  or collected for purposes of inclusion in the database created  pursuant
    50  to  section  400.02  of  this chapter shall not be subject to disclosure
    51  pursuant to article six of the public officers law.
    52    [(b) Each application for a license pursuant to paragraph (a) of  this
    53  subdivision  shall  include,  on a separate written form prepared by the
    54  division of state police within thirty days of the effective date of the
    55  chapter of the  laws  of  two  thousand  thirteen,  which  amended  this
    56  section,  and provided to the applicant at the same time and in the same

        S. 5905                             5

     1  manner as the application for a license, an opportunity for  the  appli-
     2  cant  to  request  an  exception from his or her application information

     3  becoming public record pursuant to paragraph (a)  of  this  subdivision.
     4  Such  forms,  which  shall also be made available to individuals who had
     5  applied for or been granted a license prior to the effective date of the
     6  chapter of the laws of two thousand thirteen which amended this section,
     7  shall notify applicants that, upon discovery that an applicant knowingly
     8  provided false information, such applicant may be subject  to  penalties
     9  pursuant to section 175.30 of this chapter, and further, that his or her
    10  request  for  an exception shall be null and void, provided that written
    11  notice containing such  determination  is  provided  to  the  applicant.
    12  Further, such forms shall provide each applicant an opportunity to spec-

    13  ify  the  grounds  on  which  he  or she believes his or her application
    14  information should not be publicly disclosed. These grounds, which shall
    15  be identified on the application with a box beside each for checking, as
    16  applicable, by the applicant, shall be as follows:
    17    (i) the applicant's life or safety may  be  endangered  by  disclosure
    18  because:
    19    (A)  the applicant is an active or retired police officer, peace offi-
    20  cer, probation officer, parole officer, or corrections officer;
    21    (B) the applicant is a protected person under a currently valid  order
    22  of protection;
    23    (C) the applicant is or was a witness in a criminal proceeding involv-
    24  ing a criminal charge;

    25    (D)  the  applicant  is  participating or previously participated as a
    26  juror in a criminal proceeding, or is or was a member of a  grand  jury;
    27  or
    28    (E) the applicant is a spouse, domestic partner or household member of
    29  a  person  identified  in this subparagraph or subparagraph (ii) of this
    30  paragraph, specifying which subparagraph or  subparagraphs  and  clauses
    31  apply.
    32    (ii) the applicant has reason to believe his or her life or safety may
    33  be endangered by disclosure due to reasons stated by the applicant.
    34    (iii)  the applicant has reason to believe he or she may be subject to
    35  unwarranted harassment upon disclosure of such information.
    36    (c) Each form provided for recertification pursuant to  paragraph  (b)

    37  of  subdivision ten of this section shall include an opportunity for the
    38  applicant to request an exception from the information provided on  such
    39  form  becoming  public record pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivi-
    40  sion. Such forms shall notify applicants that, upon  discovery  that  an
    41  applicant  knowingly  provided  false information, such applicant may be
    42  subject to penalties pursuant to section 175.30  of  this  chapter,  and
    43  further,  that  his  or  her  request for an exception shall be null and
    44  void, provided that written  notice  containing  such  determination  is
    45  provided to the applicant. Further, such forms shall provide each appli-
    46  cant  an opportunity to either decline to request the grant or continua-

    47  tion of an exception, or specify the grounds on which he or she believes
    48  his or her information should not be publicly disclosed. These  grounds,
    49  which  shall be identified in the application with a box beside each for
    50  checking, as applicable, by the applicant, shall be the same as provided
    51  in paragraph (b) of this subdivision.
    52    (d) Information submitted on the forms described in paragraph  (b)  of
    53  this subdivision shall be excepted from disclosure and maintained by the
    54  entity  retaining  such  information  separate  and apart from all other
    55  records.

        S. 5905                             6

     1    (e) (i) Upon receiving a request for exception  from  disclosure,  the

     2  licensing  officer  shall  grant  such  exception, unless the request is
     3  determined to be null and void, pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this
     4  subdivision.
     5    (ii)  A  request  for an exception from disclosure may be submitted at
     6  any time, including after a license or recertification has been granted.
     7    (iii) If an exception is sought and granted pursuant to paragraph  (b)
     8  of  this  subdivision,  the  application information shall not be public
     9  record, unless the request is determined to be  null  and  void.  If  an
    10  exception is sought and granted pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdi-
    11  vision,  the  information  concerning  such  recertification application
    12  shall not be public record, unless the request is determined to be  null

    13  and void.
    14    (f) The information of licensees or applicants for a license shall not
    15  be  disclosed  to  the  public  during the first one hundred twenty days
    16  following the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two  thousand
    17  thirteen, which amended this section. After such period, the information
    18  of  those  who  had  applied  for or been granted a license prior to the
    19  preparation of the form for requesting an exception, pursuant  to  para-
    20  graph  (b) of this subdivision, may be released only if such individuals
    21  did not file a request for such an exception during the first sixty days
    22  following such  preparation;  provided,  however,  that  no  information
    23  contained  in  an  application for licensure or recertification shall be

    24  disclosed by an entity  that  has  not  completed  processing  any  such
    25  requests received during such sixty days.
    26    (g)  If  a  request for an exception is determined to be null and void
    27  pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this subdivision, an  applicant  may
    28  request  review  of such determination pursuant to article seventy-eight
    29  of the civil practice laws and  rules.  Such  proceeding  must  commence
    30  within  thirty  days  after service of the written notice containing the
    31  adverse determination. Notice of the right to commence such a  petition,
    32  and  the  time  period  therefor, shall be included in the notice of the
    33  determination. Disclosure following such a petition shall  not  be  made
    34  prior to the disposition of such review.]

    35    § 14. Section 2509 of the surrogate's court procedure act, as added by
    36  chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
    37  § 2509. Firearms inventory
    38    Whenever,  by  regulation, rule or statute, a fiduciary or attorney of
    39  record must file a list of assets constituting a decedent's estate, such
    40  list must include a particularized description of every firearm, shotgun
    41  and rifle, as such terms are defined in section 265.00 of the penal law,
    42  that are part of such estate. Such [list] description must  be  prepared
    43  as  a  report  separate  and  apart  from  the  list of assets otherwise
    44  required to be filed by this chapter and, unless otherwise  provided  by
    45  law  or  by  court  order, must be filed under seal and maintained under

    46  seal by the court. Such separate report shall be filed with  the  surro-
    47  gate's  court  in  the county in which the estate proceeding, if any, is
    48  pending [and a]. A copy of such report must be filed with  the  division
    49  of  criminal justice services; such report filed with the division shall
    50  not be subject to disclosure pursuant to article six of the public offi-
    51  cers law.
    52    § 15. Subdivision 5 of section 470.00 of the penal law, as amended  by
    53  chapter 489 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
    54    5.  "Specified  criminal  conduct" means criminal conduct committed in
    55  this state constituting a criminal act, as  the  term  criminal  act  is
    56  defined  in  section 460.10 of this [chapter] title, or constituting the


        S. 5905                             7
 
     1  crime of enterprise corruption, as defined in  section  460.20  of  this
     2  [chapter]  title, or conduct constituting the crime of aggravated enter-
     3  prise corruption, as defined in section 460.22 of this title, or conduct
     4  committed in any other jurisdiction which is or would be specified crim-
     5  inal conduct if committed in this state.
     6    §  16. Subdivision 19 of section 837 of the executive law, as added by
     7  chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
     8    19. Receive  names  and  other  [non-clinical  identifying]  necessary
     9  information  pursuant  to  section  9.46  of  the  mental  hygiene  law;
    10  provided, however, any such information shall be  destroyed  five  years
    11  after  such  receipt, or pursuant to a proceeding brought under [article

    12  seventy-eight of the civil practice law  and  rules]  paragraph  (d)  of
    13  subdivision  eleven  of section 400.00 of the penal law determining that
    14  an individual is eligible for a license pursuant to such section [400.00
    15  of the penal law] and otherwise permitted to possess a firearm.
    16    § 17. Subdivision (b) of section 9.46 of the mental  hygiene  law,  as
    17  added  by  chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is amended and a new paragraph
    18  (e) is added to read as follows:
    19    (b) Notwithstanding any other law  to  the  contrary,  when  a  mental
    20  health  professional  currently providing treatment services to a person
    21  determines, in the exercise of reasonable  professional  judgment,  that
    22  such person [is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious

    23  harm to] presents a serious and imminent threat to the health and safety
    24  of  self  or  others,  he or she shall be required to report, as soon as
    25  practicable, to the [director of community services, or  the  director's
    26  designee, who shall report to the] division of criminal justice services
    27  [whenever  he  or she agrees that the person is likely to engage in such
    28  conduct]. Information transmitted to the division  of  criminal  justice
    29  services  shall be limited to names and other [non-clinical identifying]
    30  necessary information, which may only be used for determining whether  a
    31  license  issued  pursuant  to  section 400.00 of the penal law should be
    32  suspended or revoked, or for determining whether a person is  ineligible

    33  for  a license issued pursuant to section 400.00 of the penal law, or is
    34  no longer permitted under state or federal law to possess a firearm.
    35    (e) The commissioner, in consultation with the office of mental health
    36  and the department  of  education,  shall  promulgate  regulations  that
    37  establish policies and procedures to:
    38    (1) ensure that an individual reporting pursuant to subdivision (b) of
    39  this  section  is  a  mental health professional licensed to practice in
    40  this state;
    41    (2) evaluate a report that a person presents a  serious  and  imminent
    42  threat to the health and safety of self or others; and
    43    (3) ensure that the subject of such a report is properly and accurate-
    44  ly identified.

    45    §  18. Paragraphs 12 and 15 of subdivision (c) of section 33.13 of the
    46  mental hygiene law, paragraph 12 as amended and paragraph 15 as added by
    47  chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, are amended to read as follows:
    48    12. to a director of community services as defined in article nine  of
    49  this  chapter or his or her designee, provided that such director or his
    50  or her designee [(i)] requests such information in the exercise  of  his
    51  or  her statutory functions, powers and duties pursuant to section 9.37,
    52  9.45, 9.47, 9.48, 9.60 or 41.13 of this chapter[; or (ii) the disclosure
    53  of information is required pursuant to section 9.46 of this chapter].
    54    15. to the division of criminal  justice  services,  names  and  other
    55  [non-clinical identifying] necessary information for the sole purpose of


        S. 5905                             8
 
     1  implementing  the  division's responsibilities and duties under sections
     2  400.00 and 400.02 of the penal law.
     3    §  19.  Paragraph (b) of subdivision 11 of section 400.00 of the penal
     4  law, as added by chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, is  amended  and  a  new
     5  paragraph (d) is added to read as follows:
     6    (b)  Whenever [the director of community services or his or her desig-
     7  nee makes a report pursuant to section 9.46 of the mental hygiene  law,]
     8  the  division  of criminal justice services receives and substantiates a
     9  report pursuant to section 9.46 of the  mental  hygiene  law,  it  shall
    10  convey  [such]  non-clinical identifying information, whenever it deter-
    11  mines that the person named in the report  possesses  a  license  issued

    12  pursuant  to  this  section,  to the appropriate licensing official, who
    13  shall issue an order suspending or revoking such license.
    14    (d) The commissioner of mental health shall establish  an  administra-
    15  tive  process  to permit a person who has had their license suspended or
    16  revoked under paragraph (b) of this subdivision to petition  for  relief
    17  where such person's record and reputation are such that such person will
    18  not  be  likely  to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and where
    19  the granting of the relief would not be contrary to public  safety.  The
    20  commissioner  of mental health shall promulgate regulations to establish
    21  the relief  program,  which  shall  include,  but  not  be  limited  to,

    22  provisions  providing  for:  (i) an opportunity for a person who has had
    23  their license suspended or revoked under paragraph (b) of this  subdivi-
    24  sion to petition for relief in writing; (ii) the authority for the agen-
    25  cy to require that the petitioner undergo a clinical evaluation and risk
    26  assessment;  and (iii) a requirement that the agency issue a decision in
    27  writing explaining the reasons for a denial  or  grant  of  relief.  The
    28  denial  of a petition for relief may be reviewed de novo pursuant to the
    29  proceedings under article seventy-eight of the civil  practice  law  and
    30  rules.
    31    §  20.  The  opening  paragraph  of  paragraph 1 of subdivision (e) of
    32  section 9.60 of the mental hygiene law, as amended by chapter 158 of the

    33  laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows;
    34    A petition for an order authorizing assisted outpatient treatment  may
    35  be  filed  in  the  supreme  or  county court in the county in which the
    36  subject of the petition is present or reasonably believed to be present.
    37  When a director of community services has  reason  to  believe  that  an
    38  assisted  outpatient  has changed his or her county of residence, future
    39  petitions and applications under  this  section  may  be  filed  in  the
    40  supreme or county court in the assisted outpatient's new county of resi-
    41  dence,  which  shall  have  concurrent  jurisdiction with the court that
    42  initially ordered such treatment. Such petition may be initiated only by
    43  the following persons:
    44    § 21. Subdivisions 9, 10, 11 and 12 of section 18 of the public health

    45  law are renumbered subdivisions 10, 11, 12 and 13 and a new  subdivision
    46  9 is added to read as follows:
    47    9.  Notwithstanding  any provision of law to the contrary, information
    48  about patients or clients, including the identification of  patients  or
    49  clients,  clinical  records  or clinical information tending to identify
    50  patients or clients, may be released by a mental health professional, as
    51  defined by section 9.46 of the mental hygiene law:
    52    (1) to an endangered individual and a law enforcement  agency  when  a
    53  treating  mental  health  professional  has determined that a patient or
    54  client presents a serious and imminent danger to  that  individual.  The
    55  reasons  for any such disclosures shall be fully documented in the clin-

    56  ical record. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to  impose  an

        S. 5905                             9
 
     1  obligation  upon a treating mental health professional to release infor-
     2  mation pursuant to this paragraph.
     3    (2)  to  the  division  of  criminal justice services, names and other
     4  necessary information for the sole purpose  of  implementing  the  divi-
     5  sion's  responsibilities  and duties under sections 400.00 and 400.02 of
     6  the penal law.
     7    § 22. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that:
     8    1. the amendments to paragraphs (b)  and  (c)  of  subdivision  23  of
     9  section  265.00 of the penal law made by section three of this act shall
    10  not affect the suspension of such paragraphs pursuant to  subdivision  b

    11  of section 58 of chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, as amended;
    12    2. the amendments to subdivision 11 of section 400.00 of the penal law
    13  made  by section nineteen of this act shall take effect on the same date
    14  and in the same manner as section 48 of chapter 1 of the laws  of  2013,
    15  takes effect; and
    16    3.  the  amendments  to section 9.60 of the mental hygiene law made by
    17  section twenty of this act shall not affect the expiration and repeal of
    18  such section and shall expire and be deemed repealed therewith.
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