Requires the division of criminal justice services to establish a policy prohibiting police agencies from using chemical weapons and kinetic energy munitions on civilian populations and from acquiring and stockpiling such weapons or munitions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7219
SPONSOR: Chandler-Waterman TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the division
of criminal justice services to establish a policy prohibiting police
agencies from using chemical weapons and kinetic energy munitions on
civilian populations
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the division
of criminal justice services to establish a policy prohibiting police
agencies from using chemical weapOns and kinetic energy munitions on
civilian populations
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section one of the bill adds subdivision 23 to § 837 of the executive
law to require the division of criminal justice services to establish a
written policy prohibiting police agencies from developing, producing,
or otherwise acquiring or stockpiling, retaining, or transferring,
directly or indirectly, chemical weapons and kinetic energy munitions or
using such on civilian populations. This section also provides defi-
nitions for chemical weapons, toxic chemical, and kinetic energy muni-
tions.
Section two of the bill provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION::
This bill serves as a way of recognizing freedoms. Many peaceful
protests have escalated with police throwing tear gas or shooting rubber
bullets into crowds unprovoked. Such dispersal tactics have caused seri-
ous injuries including contusions, abrasions, hematomas, bone fractures,
injuries to internal organs, and death. The State finds no need to
utilize such dangerous methods against demonstrators practicing their
freedoms.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
2024-2025: A7470 Referred to codes
2023-2024: S4573
2021-2022: A7457
2019-2020: S8516
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS::
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7219
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 21, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CHANDLER-WATERMAN -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the division
of criminal justice services to establish a policy prohibiting police
agencies from using chemical weapons and kinetic energy munitions on
civilian populations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 837 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 24 to read as follows:
3 24. Establish a written policy prohibiting police agencies from using
4 chemical weapons and kinetic energy munitions on civilian populations.
5 Such policy shall prohibit police agencies from developing, producing,
6 or otherwise acquiring or stockpiling, retaining, or transferring,
7 directly or indirectly, chemical weapons or kinetic energy munitions.
8 Such policy shall also require police agencies to destroy any chemical
9 weapons possessed by such agency or located in a place under the juris-
10 diction or control of such agency. For the purposes of this subdivision:
11 (a) "Chemical weapons" means:
12 (i) toxic chemicals and their precursors, except where intended for
13 purposes not prohibited pursuant to this subdivision and where the types
14 and quantities of such chemicals are consistent with such purposes;
15 (ii) munitions and devices specifically designed to cause death or
16 other harm through toxic properties of toxic chemicals as described in
17 subparagraph (i) of this paragraph which would be released as a result
18 of the employment of such munitions and devices; or
19 (iii) any equipment specifically designed for use directly in
20 connection with the employment of munitions and devices as described in
21 subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph.
22 (b) "Toxic chemical" means any chemical which through its chemical
23 action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03140-01-5
A. 7219 2
1 permanent harm to humans or animals. Toxic chemicals include all chemi-
2 cals defined as toxic chemicals pursuant to this subparagraph, regard-
3 less of the origin or method of production of the chemical and regard-
4 less of whether the chemicals are produced in facilities, in munitions
5 or elsewhere.
6 (c) "Kinetic energy munitions" includes, but is not limited to, impact
7 rounds, including rubber baton rounds, plastic, wax, wood or rubber-
8 coated projectiles.
9 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
