New York Assembly Bill A04513

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/4/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Provides that eligible youth who were not given youthful offender status by the court be eligible for conviction sealing.

Summary

This bill would expand conviction-sealing eligibility for certain “eligible youth” who were not actually granted youthful offender status at sentencing, but who otherwise could have been found eligible for that status under New York’s youthful offender law. In effect, it creates a new pathway for those individuals to later seek sealing of their convictions under Criminal Procedure Law section 160.59. The bill also broadens the kinds of offenses that may be sealed for this group. Generally, it would allow sealing for any crime except class A-I felonies, class A-II felonies, armed felonies, and sex offenses requiring registration. It further provides a special exception for some armed felony convictions if a judge finds mitigating circumstances or that the person’s role in the offense was relatively minor. The bill would also let a person reapply for sealing if a prior application was denied.

Impact

The bill amends the Criminal Procedure Law, specifically section 160.59, by adding a new subdivision that treats certain eligible youth as sealing-eligible even when youthful offender status was not formally granted. It would expand post-conviction relief options for young defendants and could increase the number of convictions that courts are asked to seal, including some serious offenses under limited circumstances. The measure would affect defendants, defense counsel, prosecutors, and courts handling sealing applications, while leaving intact exclusions for the most serious felonies and sex-offense registration cases.

Sentiment

The available context suggests a generally reform-oriented and supportive posture toward the bill, with the sponsor framing it as a fairness measure for young people who should have been considered for youthful offender treatment. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of opposition or divided sentiment in the materials supplied. The bill’s structure, however, indicates an effort to balance expanded relief with limits for the most serious crimes.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the bill’s extension of sealing eligibility to people who were not actually adjudicated as youthful offenders, which could be viewed as broadening relief beyond current law. Another likely issue is the armed-felony exception: the bill permits sealing in some armed-felony cases only if a judge finds mitigating circumstances or relatively minor participation, a standard that may draw debate over how much discretion courts should have. Opponents, if any, would likely focus on public safety, accountability, and the treatment of serious offenses, while supporters would emphasize rehabilitation and correcting missed youthful-offender opportunities.