WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

A 10453

Establishes a persistent domestic violence offender registry

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathan Jacobson and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a public registry of domestic violence offenders with prior DV convictions, listing name, birth date, conviction details, and photo to aid public safety.

REFERRED TO CODES
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 10453

Bill Summary: A. 10453 (Savanna’s Law) – Persistent Domestic Violence Offender Registry

Jurisdiction: New York
Session: 2025-2026
Status: Introduced March 6, 2026; Referred to Codes
Sponsor: Assembly Members Stern (with co-sponsors Jonathan Jacobson and Steve Stern)

Effective date: January 1, 2027 (with applicability to offenses occurring on or after that date; prior convictions may count for purposes of the registry)

1) Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes a persistent domestic violence offender registry within the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
  • Creates a public-facing database to identify individuals with domestic violence (DV) convictions who have prior DV convictions, enhancing public safety and potential victim awareness.
  • Referred to as the “Savanna’s Law.”

2) Key Definitions

  • Persistent domestic violence offender: A person who
    • has been convicted in New York of a domestic violence offense, and
    • has at least one prior domestic violence conviction.
  • Domestic violence (DV): An act that would constitute a penal law violation (e.g., assault, stalking, harassment, strangulation, etc.) committed by a family or household member of the victim. Includes a broad list of offenses (e.g., disorderly conduct, sexual misconduct, kidnapping, etc.).
  • Family or household members: Broad definitions including related by blood or marriage, current or former spouses, people who share a child, unrelated individuals who regularly live together or have lived together, and those in an intimate relationship (with factors to consider the nature and duration of the relationship).

3) Registry Structure and Access

  • Creation and maintenance: A persistent domestic violence offender registry is created within DCJS. It will be maintained using:
    • Court clerks’ information (per applicable subparagraphs),
    • Data from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), and
    • State and local law enforcement agencies.
  • Public access: The registry will be available for public inquiry on the internet.
  • Information included (publicly accessible):
    • Name, date of birth, conviction date, counties of conviction, and a current photograph.
  • Identification safeguards: The public registry will not include:
    • Address, social security number, driver license number, or other state/federal ID numbers.
  • Additional data (limited to internal use): If available after reasonable inquiry, the court clerk may provide a copy of the offender’s driver license or other identification data to properly identify individuals and exclude innocent persons.

4) Registration Requirements and Process

  • Who must register: If a person is convicted of an offense against a DV victim and has at least one prior DV conviction, the court must order registration (persistent DV offender) upon proof of prior DV convictions.
  • Court notice to DCJS: The court clerk must forward a certified copy of the qualifying conviction and the defendant’s date of birth to DCJS within 7 days of conviction.
  • Registration fee: Defendants required to register must pay a $150 registration fee. Fee distribution:
    • $50 retained by the court for administration and end-of-year use,
    • $100 remitted to the Domestic Violence Awareness Fund (as established by law).

5) Duration and Removal from Registry

  • The registry term length depends on the number of prior DV convictions:
    • 1 prior DV conviction: removal after 5 years from the most recent DV conviction.
    • 2 prior DV convictions: removal after 7 years.
    • 3 prior DV convictions: removal after 10 years.
    • 4 or more prior DV convictions: removal after 20 years.
  • DCJS may remove a name and identifying information from the registry in accordance with these timeframes.

6) Victim Protections and Consent

  • Before including a persistent DV offender on the registry, DCJS must offer the DV victim(s) the option to decline inclusion.

7) Scope and Limitations

  • Applies only to DV offenses that occurred on or after January 1, 2027; however, a prior DV conviction can count toward the “persistent offender” status for purposes of the registry (i.e., prior qualifying convictions may be considered in determining persistent status).
  • The bill emphasizes public transparency while safeguarding sensitive identifying data from public exposure.

8) Potential Impact

  • Provides public visibility of repeat DV offenders, potentially aiding victims, families, and community members in risk assessment.
  • Establishes a dedicated funding stream for administration and DV awareness.
  • Creates procedural obligations for courts and DCJS to ensure timely reporting and ongoing registry maintenance.
  • Balances transparency with privacy protections by excluding addresses and identification numbers from the public registry.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill’s provisions to existing NY DV laws or outline potential implementation considerations for agencies.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.