Governor Hochul signs new crime-fighting bills

November 26, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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STATEWIDE — PEOPLE WHO WEAR RELIGIOUS CLOTHING, at-risk youths in school and victims of cellphone theft will receive protections from a set of new crime-fighting laws that Governor Kathy Hochul signed on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The three new laws protect individuals from hate-fueled attacks, enhance anti-violence education in schools and crack down on stolen cellphones by requiring providers to do their part in preventing the devices from being used fraudulently.

Legislation S5302/A8849 amends state law to classify the removal or threat of removal of religious clothing, such as a yarmulke or hijab, as aggravated harassment in the second degree. Prompting this bill were multiple incidents over the past year where individuals’ religious clothing has been threatened in acts of hateful violence.

Legislation S4598D/A4917D would allow anti-violence educational programs to receive funding from the Omnibus School Violence Prevention Grant program. Newly eligible programs would provide evidence-based trauma support for at-risk youth, as well as group counseling and anti-violence education.

Legislation S7739B/A8994A enacts “Detective Brian Simonsen’s Law,” which requires wireless service providers to disable services to stolen wireless phones. The law is named after Detective Brian Simonsen, an NYPD officer who lost his life in 2019 while responding to an armed robbery at a cellphone store.

State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-23/southern Brooklyn), a main sponsor, praised Gov. Hochul, NYPD veterans Paul DiGiacomo and Scott Munroe, and the DEA for their advocacy.

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