New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

New York Senate Bill S00524

Introduced
1/8/25  
Refer
1/8/25  
Engrossed
2/26/25  
Refer
2/26/25  
Refer
1/7/26  
Engrossed
2/9/26  
Refer
2/10/26  
Refer
2/9/26  
Engrossed
3/30/26  

Caption

Establishes the crime of voyeurism in the first and second degree which is defined as when someone for their own amusement, entertainment, profit, sexual arousal or sexual gratification trespasses or uses an instrument to observe for the purpose of viewing a person dressing or undressing or the sexual or other intimate parts of such person at a place and time when such person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, without such person's knowledge or consent.

Impact

The introduction of Bill S00524 will directly influence New York's law regarding privacy rights and criminal liability. By explicitly outlining acts deemed as voyeurism, the bill establishes clearer legal ramifications for individuals engaging in such behavior. With voyeurism classified under criminal law, the intent is to deter such invasive actions and afford greater protection to individuals, especially considering the rise of technology that makes surreptitious viewing increasingly accessible. Buffers against voyeurism reflect a growing societal concern regarding privacy and respect for personal boundaries in a digital age where technology blurs lines around consent.

Summary

Bill S00524 seeks to amend New York's penal law by establishing the crimes of voyeurism in the first and second degrees. Specifically, the bill defines voyeurism in the second degree as a person committing acts for their own amusement, profit, or sexual gratification by surreptitiously viewing someone without their consent. This includes spying on individuals dressing or engaging in intimate acts in private settings. The first degree of voyeurism escalates the offense to such a level if the individual has previously been convicted of voyeurism within ten years, categorizing it as a class A misdemeanor. This legislative effort aims to strengthen protections for individuals regarding their expectation of privacy in personal settings.

Contention

Notably, discussions surrounding S00524 may provoke varying opinions on privacy rights and law enforcement's role in regulating behavior deemed invasive. Critics could argue that while the intent of the bill is to protect citizens, the broad definitions of voyeurism may inadvertently criminalize behavior that does not align with the original intent of the legislation. The differentiation between first and second-degree voyeurism may also raise debates on the effectiveness and fairness in penalizing repeat offenders versus first-time offenders, further adding to discussions on the necessity of such measures in an evolving digital landscape where privacy is complexly intertwined with new technologies.

Companion Bills

NY A11339

Same As Establishes the crime of voyeurism in the first and second degree which is defined as when someone for their own amusement, entertainment, profit, sexual arousal or sexual gratification trespasses or uses an instrument to observe for the purpose of viewing a person dressing or undressing or the sexual or other intimate parts of such person at a place and time when such person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, without such person's knowledge or consent.

Previously Filed As

NY A10469

Allows orders of protection to be issued for persons where one such person is the spouse or intimate partner of such other person's former spouse or former intimate partner.

NY A09129

Requires lifetime post-release supervision for offenders convicted of rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree, course of sexual conduct against a child in the first and second degrees or sexual abuse in the first degree when the other person is less than eleven years old; prohibits good behavior allowances against a determinate sentence for a person convicted of any such crimes.

NY S09658

Establishes a private right of action for any person whose personally identifying information was intentionally disclosed by another individual, without consent, for the purpose of harassing, threatening, intimidating, or causing harm to such person, or with reckless disregard as to whether such disclosure would cause such harm; defines personal information.

NY A10091

Establishes a private right of action for any person whose personally identifying information was intentionally disclosed by another individual, without consent, for the purpose of harassing, threatening, intimidating, or causing harm to such person, or with reckless disregard as to whether such disclosure would cause such harm; defines personal information.

NY A11053

Provides that a person is guilty of assault in the second degree when such person recklessly or with intent to cause physical injury to another person causes physical injury to another person in any place, conveyance, or vehicle used for public transportation or public transit; provides that a person is guilty of assault in the first degree when with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person such person causes such injury to such other person in any place, conveyance, or vehicle used for public transportation or public transit.

NY S01933

Provides that being eighteen years old or more, while in the course of committing rape in the first, second or third degree, criminal sexual act in the first, second or third degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse in the first, second, third or fourth degree, or incest in the first, second or third degree, against a person less than eighteen years old, such defendant intentionally causes the death of such person.

NY A05783

Provides that being eighteen years old or more, while in the course of committing rape in the first, second or third degree, criminal sexual act in the first, second or third degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse in the first, second, third or fourth degree, or incest in the first, second or third degree, against a person less than eighteen years old, such defendant intentionally causes the death of such person.

NY S0577

Prohibits family court from detaining or committing any youth, 12 years or younger, to training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses there is no other reasonable placement.

NY S2046

Prohibits family court from detaining or committing any youth,12 years or younger, to training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses there is no other reasonable placement.

NY H5650

Prohibits family court from detaining or committing any youth, 12 years or younger, to training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses there is no other reasonable placement.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.