Assemblymember Patricia A.

Fahy
109th Assembly District Albany, Bethlehem, Guilderland, New Scotland

For Immediate Release Feb. 11, 2014

N.Y. ASSEMBLY PASSES PUBLIC LEWDNESS BILL 105-0

ALBANY, N.Y. (Feb. 11, 2014) --- The New York State Assembly has passed legislation that will increase penalties and charges for those who commit acts of public lewdness in front of minors and repeat offenders. The vote took place on Monday, Feb. 10, with a result of 105-0. The legislation was cosponsored by Assemblymembers Patricia Fahy (D-Albany), John T. McDonald III (D-Cohoes), and Joseph Lentol (D-Brooklyn). In the Senate, the bill has been sponsored by Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island). Im pleased that this legislation passed the Assembly and look forward to working with the Senate and the Governor to pass this important piece of legislation. As a mother with a 14 year old daughter who often walks to school or the bus, these sorts of incidents hit very close to home. By elevating penalties to a Class A misdemeanor for instances of indecent exposure to a minor or for repeated offenders of indecent exposure , the hope is that this will deter the re-occurrence of these incidents of depravity," said Assemblymember Fahy. Deviant behavior such as public lewdness, whether at the expense of a child or anyone else, can have traumatic impacts on those affected and is even greater when dealing with a repeat offender. Sadly, this type of behavior is not unique to just the city of Albany but extends to communities throughout New York State and therefore there needs to be a more appropriate solution and a call for a more serious penalty," said Assemblymember McDonald. The legislation creates a new charge of Public Lewdness in the first degree, elevating what had been a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor for individuals 19 years old and above who intentionally expose a private or intimate body part in the presence of a child under the age of 16, and to increase penalties on repeat offenders who have been convicted of Public Lewdness within the previous year. A Class A misdemeanor carries up to a year in jail or three years probation. ###