Law
Summary of New York State Domestic Violence and Related Laws by Subject (beginning from 1995)
Subject Categories
Economic Protections/Contracts
Addresses financial and economic abuse by adding certain crimes of identity theft, larceny and coercion to the list of family offenses in the Family Court Act and the criminal procedure law. The new law also adds a new condition that can be included in orders of protection, requiring the abuser to return specified “identification documents,” such as a passport, immigration papers, social security card, benefits or insurance card, etc., to the protected party.
Signed: December 18, 2013 Chapter 526
Effective: December 18, 2013
Amends: Family Court Act §§446; 551; 656; 812(1); 821(1)(a); 842; 1056(1)
Domestic Relations Law §252(1)
Criminal Procedure Law §§530.11(1); 530.12(1)
Removes a provision that gave campground owners the authority to investigate a victim’s request to cancel a membership camping contract. If the victim can provide documentation that the other signee of the contract perpetrated domestic violence against them, the victim’s part of the membership can be cancelled. The campground owner cannot investigate whether the alleged abuser would present a danger to campground users or employees or take action, based on the victim’s request, to terminate the abuser’s membership. Based on concerns for victims’ safety, this amendment was agreed upon when the Governor signed the original campership bill in 2012.
Signed: April 9, 2013 Chapter 17
Effective: Back to February 13, 2013, when the 2012 membership camping contract law went into effect
Amends: General Business Law §654-a(2)(5)
Allows individuals with membership camping contracts to cancel their part of a contract under certain conditions, including domestic violence, if the victim can provide documentation that the other signee of the contract perpetrated domestic violence against them.
Based on concerns raised regarding victim safety, the Governor’s approval memo notes that the Legislature has agreed to eliminate the portion of the law that would allow campground operators to investigate whether the alleged abuser would present a danger to campground users or employees, and take subsequent action to terminate their membership.
Signed: 2012 Chapter 383
Effective: February 13, 2013
Amends: General Business Law §654-a
Allows victims of domestic violence to protect their credit reports by placing, or temporarily lifting, a freeze on their credit report, without charge. To be eligible, victims must have an order of protection, a DIR (domestic incident report), a police report, or a signed affidavit from a service provider. Prohibits credit reporting agencies from sharing with any third party the basis for the requested freeze.
Signed: 2008 Chapter 406
Effective: August 5, 2008
Amends: General Business Law §380-t(b) and (n)