Amends the penal law to change an incorrect reference.
Summary
This bill makes a narrow technical correction to the Penal Law. It amends section 250.70(2)(a) to replace an incorrect statutory cross-reference from section 270.71 to section 250.71 in the list of exceptions to the offense of unlawful dissemination of a personal image. The bill does not create a new crime, expand criminal liability, or change the substance of the underlying offense; it simply fixes a reference so the statute points to the intended provision.
The measure is stated to take effect immediately and to be deemed in force as of the same date and in the same manner as chapter 805 of the laws of 2022. In practical terms, this is a conforming amendment intended to preserve consistency in the Penal Law and avoid confusion for courts, prosecutors, defense counsel, and others interpreting the exception language in the personal-image dissemination statute.
Impact
The bill would amend the Penal Law’s exception clause for unlawful dissemination of a personal image by correcting a mistaken citation, ensuring that the statute refers to the proper section. Its impact is limited to statutory clarity and interpretation rather than policy change, but it may affect how the exception is applied in cases involving image-based privacy offenses. The correction helps maintain consistency across related provisions and reduces the risk of misreading the law due to an erroneous cross-reference.
Sentiment
Because the bill is a technical correction, the available context suggests a neutral to favorable sentiment. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes indicating controversy or opposition, and the caption describes it as a correction of an incorrect reference. Bills of this type are typically viewed as housekeeping measures necessary to keep the code accurate and workable.
Contention
No specific points of contention are evident in the available record. The only substantive issue is the correction of the statutory citation itself, which appears to be a drafting or renumbering error. Since the bill does not alter the scope of the underlying offense or the exceptions to it, there is no indication of disagreement among affected parties beyond the need to ensure the correct provision is referenced.
Relating to changing the name of the offense of child pornography to child sexual abuse material and to updating references to conform to that terminology.
Miscellaneous technical corrections made to laws and statutes; erroneous, obsolete, and omitted text and references corrected; redundant, conflicting, and superseded provisions removed; and style and form changes made.