FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2023
ALBANY, NY – Assemblymember Michael Reilly (R,C-Staten Island) announced today that three pieces of legislation he sponsored to combat the state’s crime crisis were “held” today during a meeting of the Assembly Codes Committee, which is chaired by Democrat Jeffrey Dinowitz of the Bronx, blocking them from reaching the floor to be voted on by the entire body until at least 2025. These bills, in particular, would have addressed several significant shortfalls in the state’s criminal procedure and penal laws that are associated with some of the disastrous policies passed by the Democrat-controlled state legislature in recent years. The bills held in committee today include:
A3167 (Reilly) would amend the criminal procedure law to permit the possession of a loaded firearm to count as one of the extraordinary circumstances that allow an adolescent offender charged with a violent felony offense to be tried in the youth part of criminal court.
A3183 (Reilly) would also amend the criminal procedure law to permit judicial discretion based on whether the offender poses a danger to a person or the community when issuing a securing order, extend the discovery period, permit immediate bench warrants for failure to appear for hate crimes, and places restrictions on the issuance of desk appearance tickets.
A5029 (Reilly) would amend the penal law to authorize prosecutors to combine petite larceny incidences occurring in one 18-month period following the second conviction to elevate the crimes to a felony.
Little explanation was offered as to why the bills were held, and though this practice is common for bills carried by members of the Minority, Reilly contends that given their intention to restore public safety, they should have been given greater consideration.
“I proposed these bills because I believe in the work we do and take seriously our responsibility to the people of the State of New York,” said Reilly, who previously served as a Lieutenant with the New York City Police Department. “Holding them in committee prevents legislators on either side of the aisle from examining or asking questions about them as they consider whether or not to support – more importantly, it limits our ability to pass laws that are both reasonable and effective.”
Reilly continued: “At this point, the facts are indisputable. Among all the categories of crime that we have seen a spike in, the most rapid include youth gun violence and organized retail theft. Time after time we learn that many of these crimes are being committed repeatedly by the same offenders, many of whom are egregiously taking advantage of the revolving door that has become this state’s criminal justice system. Make no mistake, this is a full-blown crisis and one that we can no longer wash our hands of it as elected officials. With less than two weeks remaining of this year’s legislative session, the clock is ticking.”