Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C-Ballston) and her Minority colleagues continue to highlight common-sense legislation that would address the public safety crisis New York state is facing. Assembly Majority are holding many of these bills in committee, barring them from ever getting a full up and down vote. The lack of action on these public safety bills also coincides with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is recognized from April 24-30.

“The recently-passed state budget did little to address the growing crime problem we are seeing in all corners of our state. This week, during National Crime Victims’ Rights week, it is important to point out common-sense and broadly-supported public safety legislation that Majority lawmakers continue to hold-up in the committee process. New Yorkers want and deserve their sense of safety back, and I will continue to support legislation that does just that,” said Walsh.

Here are some of the bills being held up in committee this week:

• Parole Reform (A.5737, Barclay) – Requiring a unanimous vote of at least three commissioners to grant a prisoner early release and allowing a majority vote of the Legislature to remove a commissioner from the Parole Board.
• Bail for Gun Crimes (A.7066, Barclay) – Removing all gun crimes from the no-bail list of offenses Democrats established in 2019.
• Additional 5 Years for Possession (A.4762, Mikulin) – Providing for an additional 5-year term of imprisonment for committing a felony while possessing a loaded firearm.
• Paula’s Law (A.6017, Lawler) – Preventing the parole of anyone who sexually assaults and murders a child under the age of 18.
• Judicial Discretion for Additional Crimes (A.7772, Lawler) – Adding any crime resulting in death or physical injury to the lit of qualifying offenses which allows a judge to impose bail or deny pretrial release, including previously carved-out violent felony crimes.
• Judicial Discretion & Risk Assessment (A.6933, Tannousis) – Restoring judicial discretion relating to bail reform, and providing that when the defendant is charged with a felony, the court shall request of the applicable county pretrial services agency that a risk and needs assessment be conducted.
• Shooting at a Public Safety Officer (A.9608, Durso) – Makes it a Class B Felony to shoot a gun at a peace officer, police officer, corrections officer, firefighter or emergency medical services professional.
• Hate Crimes Against Law Enforcement (A.3824, DeStefano) – Designate offenses against law enforcement, whether actual law enforcement officers or those perceived as law enforcement officers, as hate crimes, thereby increasing the penalty for the offense (also includes EMS and Firefighters).