Provides an exemption of any award from the September eleventh victim compensation fund from application to the satisfaction of money judgements.
Summary
This bill would amend New York’s Civil Practice Law and Rules to exempt awards received from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund from being used to satisfy money judgments. In practical terms, a person who receives compensation from the 9/11 fund would be able to keep those funds protected from creditors or judgment enforcement actions, rather than having the award subject to collection to pay outstanding debts or court judgments.
The bill is narrowly focused on a specific class of compensation: awards from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund established under federal law. It adds a new exemption to CPLR section 5205, which governs property and funds that are shielded from execution or attachment under New York law. The act would take effect immediately upon enactment.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would change New York exemption law by adding 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund awards to the list of assets protected from satisfaction of money judgments. This would affect judgment creditors, debt collection efforts, and recipients of federal compensation related to September 11th injuries or losses by preventing those awards from being seized or garnished to pay civil judgments.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history available for this bill, so no formal legislative debate or roll-call sentiment can be assessed from the provided materials. Based on the bill text and caption alone, the measure appears to be a targeted protective bill intended to preserve compensation for 9/11 victims and their families, suggesting a likely sympathetic policy rationale.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the available materials. Potential areas of concern, if raised in future debate, could include the effect on creditors’ ability to collect valid judgments and whether the exemption should be limited strictly to 9/11-related compensation. Supporters would likely emphasize fairness and the compensatory purpose of the fund, while opponents might focus on the breadth of judgment exemptions and the impact on debt enforcement.
Defines the term "satisfaction" in relation to the satisfaction of judgments; allows satisfaction of judgments to be filed by affirmation rather than after notarization; increases the time during which attorneys may file satisfaction of judgment from ten to twenty years; clarifies that the twenty-day time limit applicable to filing satisfactions of judgment is measured in business days.
Defines the term "satisfaction" in relation to the satisfaction of judgments; allows satisfaction of judgments to be filed by affirmation rather than after notarization; increases the time during which attorneys may file satisfaction of judgment from ten to twenty years; clarifies that the twenty-day time limit applicable to filing satisfactions of judgment is measured in business days.
Relating to the disclosure or release of certain information received by the attorney general regarding an application for compensation from the crime victims' compensation fund.
Establishes the division of the crime victims' statewide advocate to represent crime victims' and witnesses' legal interests during discovery and trial and assist with victim compensation applications.
Provides five hundred employment slots for first responders who performed their duties in the area of the September eleventh, two thousand one terrorist attacks