STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________
2683
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 19, 2021 ___________
Introduced by M. of A. O'DONNELL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to the execution of a warrant of arrest; to amend the executive law, in relation to authorizing the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services to establish a system to record and monitor the issuance and execution of search warrants; and to amend the judiciary law, in relation to authorizing the chief administrator to establish educa- tional programs for judicial personnel on the law of searches, arrests and seizures
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The opening paragraph of section 690.10 of the criminal 2 procedure law is amended to read as follows: 3 Personal property is subject to seizure pursuant to a search warrant 4 if such seizure is made in connection with a lawful arrest and there is 5 reasonable cause to believe that it: 6 § 2. Subdivision 2 of section 690.30 of the criminal procedure law is 7 amended to read as follows: 8 2. A search warrant may be executed on any day of the week. [It] 9 Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, a search warrant may 10 be executed only between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M., unless 11 the warrant expressly authorizes execution thereof at any time of the 12 day or night, as provided in subdivision [five] six of section 690.45 of 13 this article. Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of subdivision four of 14 section 690.35 of this article, a search warrant based in whole or in 15 part on the grounds set forth in paragraph (b) of subdivision four of 16 section 690.35 of this article may be executed only between the hours of 17 9:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. unless there is reasonable cause to believe that 18 it cannot be executed between those hours because, in the case of an 19 application for a search warrant as defined in paragraph (b) of subdivi-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD02810-01-1
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1 sion two of section 690.05 of this article, the person sought is likely 2 to flee or commit another crime, or may endanger the safety of the 3 executing police officers or another person if not seized forthwith or 4 between the hours of 6:00 P.M. and 9:00 A.M., in which event the request 5 must contain facts to support such application, and the court must make 6 a finding in writing or orally on the record or in writing upon the 7 application itself setting forth the factual basis for the issuance of 8 the warrant pursuant to this subdivision. 9 § 3. Subdivision 1 and paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 of section 10 690.35 of the criminal procedure law, subdivision 1 as amended by chap- 11 ter 679 of the laws of 1982, and paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 as 12 amended by chapter 424 of the laws of 1998, are amended to read as 13 follows: 14 1. An application for a search warrant may be in writing or oral. If 15 in writing, it must be made, subscribed and sworn to by a public servant 16 specified in subdivision one of section 690.05 of this article. If 17 oral, it must be made by such a public servant and sworn to and recorded 18 in the manner provided in section 690.36 of this article. An applica- 19 tion for a search warrant based either in whole or in part on paragraph 20 (b) of subdivision four of this section, must be made to a court between 21 the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. unless circumstances reasonably 22 require that such application be made at another time, in which event 23 such circumstances shall be stated in the application for the warrant. 24 (b) A request that the search warrant authorize the executing police 25 officer to enter premises to be searched without giving notice of his 26 authority and purpose, upon the ground that there is reasonable cause to 27 believe that (i) [the property sought may be easily and quickly 28 destroyed or disposed of, or (ii)] the giving of such notice may endan- 29 ger the life or safety of the executing officer or another person, or 30 [(iii)] (ii) in the case of an application for a search warrant as 31 defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision two of section 690.05 for the 32 purpose of searching for and arresting a person who is the subject of a 33 warrant for a felony, the person sought is likely to commit another 34 felony, or may endanger the life or safety of the executing officer or 35 another person. In order for a request that a search warrant authorizes 36 the executing police officer to enter premises to be searched without 37 giving notice of his authority and purpose be granted, such request 38 shall show that extreme circumstances are involved, which for purposes 39 of this article are the investigation and/or pursuing of suspected 40 offenses or offenders that involve murder, an active-shooter, hostage- 41 taking, kidnapping, terrorism, human trafficking or where a situation 42 involves an individual who has barricaded himself in a specific area and 43 has a violent history. 44 § 4. Section 690.35 of the criminal procedure law is amended by 45 adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows: 46 5. When making an application based either in whole or in part on 47 paragraph (b) of subdivision four of this section, in addition to the 48 other requirements for an application for a search warrant, the appli- 49 cant must ascertain, to the extent reasonably possible, whether any 50 parties other than any subject of the search warrant shall be present 51 when the warrant is executed, and if so, the application shall include a 52 list containing the estimated age, gender, and physical condition of 53 each additional occupant, any known individuals with cognitive and/or 54 physical disabilities, and any pets known or likely to be present at the 55 premises to be searched, and reasonable alternatives to executing such 56 warrant in the presence of such individuals. The results of such inves-
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1 tigation shall be included in the application and conform with the 2 requirements of paragraph (c) of subdivision three of this section. 3 § 5. Subdivision 1 of section 690.40 of the criminal procedure law is 4 amended to read as follows: 5 1. (a) In determining an application for a search warrant the court 6 may examine, under oath, any person whom it believes may possess perti- 7 nent information. Any such examination must be either recorded or 8 summarized on the record by the court. 9 (b) In determining an application for a search warrant based, either 10 in whole or in part, upon the grounds described in paragraph (b) of 11 subdivision four of section 690.35 of this article, the court shall 12 state, with specificity, in writing or orally on the record or in writ- 13 ing upon the application for the warrant itself, the factual basis for 14 the issuance of the warrant pursuant to such paragraph. Such determi- 15 nation shall include evidence stating why a warrant that requires an 16 officer to knock and announce his or her presence shall not be issued. 17 § 6. Subdivision 6 of section 690.45 of the criminal procedure law, as 18 renumbered by chapter 679 of the laws of 1982, is amended and a new 19 subdivision 8-a is added to read as follows: 20 6. A direction that the warrant be executed between the hours of 6:00 21 A.M. and 9:00 P.M., or, where the court has specially so determined, an 22 authorization for execution thereof at any time of the day or night 23 unless the warrant has been obtained based on an application based in 24 whole or in part on paragraph (b) of subdivision four of section 690.35 25 of this article, in which event the provisions of subdivision two of 26 section 690.30 of this article relating to the time for executing such 27 warrants shall apply; and 28 8-a. An intended course of action if no response is received from the 29 intended suspect of the warrant at the time of execution within thirty 30 seconds; and 31 § 7. Section 690.50 of the criminal procedure law is amended by adding 32 five new subdivisions 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 to read as follows: 33 7. Upon seizing property or arresting a person pursuant to a search 34 warrant issued under this article, in addition to the requirements of 35 subdivisions five and six of this section, the police officer shall file 36 a report with the court that issued such warrant in a form prescribed by 37 the division of criminal justice services pursuant to section eight 38 hundred thirty-seven-w of the executive law, specifying the following 39 information: 40 (a) if applicable, the subparagraph of paragraph (b) of subdivision 41 four of section 690.35 of this article upon which such warrant was 42 based; 43 (b) the officer and agency which obtained the warrant; 44 (c) the prosecutor and prosecuting office which drafted the warrant; 45 (d) whether the facts contained in the supporting affidavit were based 46 upon a confidential informant, or an identified citizen informant or a 47 police officer, none of whom must be named; 48 (e) the date and time the search warrant was applied for and the date 49 and time the search warrant was signed; 50 (f) the date and time the search warrant was executed; 51 (g) the judge who signed and the court that issued the warrant; 52 (h) whether the application for the warrant issued had been submitted 53 to another judge other than the judge who issued the warrant for which 54 the report is submitted and if so, when such application or applications 55 were made and the result of each such application;
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1 (i) the age, sex and race of the individual to whom such warrant was 2 directed; 3 (j) whether physical force or deadly force was used in executing such 4 warrant; 5 (k) if physical or deadly force was used: 6 (i) whether any individual was injured or killed and if so, the age, 7 sex and race of each such person; and 8 (ii) the status of each such person, specifying whether each was the 9 subject of the search warrant, a police officer, or a third-party; 10 (l) the address where the warrant was executed including the street 11 address, city or town, county and zip code; 12 (m) the result of executing the warrant, specifying whether: 13 (i) evidence was seized; and 14 (ii) any individuals were arrested, and if so, whether the subject of 15 the warrant was arrested or other individuals not named in the warrant 16 were arrested; and 17 (n) whether any property was damaged during the course of executing 18 the warrant and a description thereof. 19 8. Search warrants not executed within seven days of issuance shall be 20 considered null and void. 21 9. An officer shall be required to present evidence and/or surveil- 22 lance gathered within twenty-four hours or less before a warrant is 23 executed which verifies that the suspect of such warrant is present at 24 the residence intended to be searched. 25 10. Any officer or officers who are executing a search warrant shall 26 be required to be in official uniform and be clearly recognizable and 27 identifiable as a police officer. All officers involved in the execution 28 of a search warrant shall wear visible badges containing names and iden- 29 tification numbers. 30 11. (a) Any officer or officers who are executing a search warrant 31 shall allow a minimum of thirty seconds for the occupants of the proper- 32 ty being searched to respond and open the door before such officer or 33 officers attempt to enter the property, except for situations where 34 verifiable, exigent circumstances exist. For purposes of this section, 35 "verifiable, exigent circumstances" means any event occurring in real- 36 time that is life-threatening to the officer or officers executing a 37 search warrant or to the occupants of the property which is being 38 searched. 39 (b) No officer involved in the execution of a search warrant shall at 40 any point during such execution use any flash bang, stun, distraction or 41 other similar device unless verifiable, exigent circumstances exist. 42 (c) No officer involved in the execution of a search warrant shall 43 execute a warrant outside of when such warrant is allowed to be executed 44 under this article unless verifiable, exigent circumstances exist. 45 § 8. Section 690.55 of the criminal procedure law, paragraph (b) of 46 subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 424 of the laws of 1998, is amended 47 to read as follows: 48 § 690.55 Search warrants; disposition of seized property. 49 1. Upon receiving property seized pursuant to a search warrant, the 50 court [must] shall either: 51 (a) Retain it in the custody of the court pending further disposition 52 thereof pursuant to subdivision two or some other provision of law; or 53 (b) Direct that it be held in the custody of the person who applied 54 for the warrant, or of the police officer who executed it, or of the 55 governmental or official agency or department by which either such
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1 public servant is employed, upon condition that upon order of such court 2 such property be returned thereto or delivered to another court. 3 2. A local criminal court which retains custody of such property 4 [must] shall, upon request of another criminal court in which a criminal 5 action involving or relating to such property is pending, cause it to be 6 delivered thereto. 7 3. Where the arrestee connected to the seizure is not convicted of any 8 crimes connected to the seizure, all seized property connected to the 9 arrestee's arrest shall be immediately returned to the arrestee upon the 10 arrestee no longer being charged with a crime connected to the seizure. 11 § 9. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding two new sections 12 690.60 and 690.65 to read as follows: 13 § 690.60 Search warrants; monetary restitution. 14 1. Following the execution of a search warrant issued pursuant to 15 paragraph (b) of subdivision four of section 690.35 of this article, the 16 owner of the place or premises at which such warrant was executed and 17 the owner of any property located at such premises shall be entitled to 18 monetary restitution, paid promptly by the state or municipality employ- 19 ing the officials who executed the warrant, for a premises, or any part 20 thereof, and any items of property at such premises that were damaged or 21 destroyed as a part of the execution of such warrant upon such premises, 22 unless such owner of such premises or property is: 23 (a) convicted of a crime involving or relating to property seized 24 pursuant to such warrant; or 25 (b) convicted of a crime involving or relating to the search warrant 26 for such premises issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision two of 27 section 690.05 of this article. 28 2. Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting any other 29 right, duty or cause of action that may exist with respect to any prem- 30 ises, or part thereof, or any property that may be damaged or destroyed 31 as a result of any such arrest or search. 32 § 690.65 Search warrants; violations. 33 Where a search warrant is executed in violation of this article: 34 1. any evidence obtained in connection with the search warrant shall 35 be inadmissible in evidence by the prosecution; and 36 2. any officer involved in the execution of such search warrant shall 37 be subject to disciplinary actions including, but not limited to, fines, 38 suspension or termination. 39 § 10. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 837-w to 40 read as follows: 41 § 837-w. Establish a form and system to record and monitor the issu- 42 ance and execution of search warrants. 1. The commissioner shall 43 prescribe the form of document to be used by every law enforcement agen- 44 cy of the state and of each municipality, city, town and village to 45 accompany a report to be prepared in accordance with subdivision seven 46 of section 690.50 of the criminal procedure law. 47 2. The commissioner shall establish a system to record and monitor the 48 issuance and execution of search warrants by every law enforcement agen- 49 cy in the state of New York. Every court that issues search warrants 50 shall file on or before the thirty-first day of December of each year 51 with the commissioner, a copy of each form filed with such court and 52 prescribed in subdivision one of this section, retaining the original 53 copy of such form with the court. The commissioner shall collect, proc- 54 ess and analyze such information contained in such reports, and issue a 55 report by the thirtieth day of June of each year which shall be made 56 public and a copy of which shall be sent to the office of court adminis-
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1 tration, each law enforcement agency, each civil complaint review board 2 with jurisdiction over a police or law enforcement agency, and to the 3 attorney general of the state of New York. 4 § 11. Section 212 of the judiciary law is amended by adding a new 5 subdivision 3 to read as follows: 6 3. The chief administrator shall also formulate, establish and main- 7 tain educational programs, seminars and institutes for the judicial 8 personnel of the unified court system, to be scheduled on an annual 9 basis, or if the circumstances warrant, more frequently, on the law of 10 searches, arrests and seizures under the laws of the state of New York, 11 with emphasis on the appropriate standards for the issuance of all 12 warrants authorized under the criminal procedure law. 13 § 12. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day 14 after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, 15 amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the 16 implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and 17 directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.