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Bill

A 9551

Relates to coercive control

2025 Regular Session Introduced by John McDonald and 5 co-sponsors

Establishes coercive control as a recognized pattern, with concurrent civil and criminal remedies, new protection orders, and mandatory judicial training to protect victims.

PRINT NUMBER 9551A
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 9551

Overview

A.9551 (2025-2026, New York) introduces, clarifies, and expands legal responses to coercive control. The bill defines coercive control, expands jurisdiction for related proceedings, creates protective and civil remedies, and mandates training for judges and court staff. It also aligns family, criminal, and domestic relations contexts to address coercive control consistently across forums.

Purpose and intent

  • Establish coercive control as a recognized pattern of behavior that can threaten a person's autonomy, safety, and well-being.
  • Ensure concurrent or exclusive jurisdiction across family court, criminal court, and related domestic relations proceedings when coercive control or related acts occur.
  • Provide civil remedies (new right-of-action) alongside existing protective orders to address ongoing coercive control and its harms.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Definition and scope of coercive control

    • Adds a broad, statutory definition of coercive control (section 819) as a pattern of behavior intended to dominate, intimidate, or subordinate another person, interfering with free will, autonomy, or personal liberty.
    • Includes specific behaviors: isolation, monitoring/movement restrictions, control of finances and resources, interference with housing/healthcare/employment, threats or harassment, misuse of digital devices, misuse of legal/administrative processes, and repeated verbal degradation.
    • Clarifies that reasonable safety actions or legitimate authority are not deemed coercive control.

  2. Jurisdiction across courts

    • Amends the Family Court Act and Criminal Procedure Law to authorize concurrent jurisdiction over coercive-control-related proceedings (and other listed offenses) between family and criminal courts.
    • Maintains the option for either forum, with the criminal court not automatically divested of hearing family offense proceedings.
    • Defines “members of the same family or household” for criminal proceedings consistent with the act’s definitions.

  3. Orders of protection and related procedures

    • Section 154-c adds a new subdivision allowing orders of protection based on a finding of coercive control (preponderance of the evidence).
    • Requires updating forms to include coercive control as a basis for protection orders.
    • Continued coercive-control conduct after protection orders may support contempt under the Penal Law.

  4. Judicial training and guidance

    • Creates a new Judiciary Law provision (section 39-c) mandating mandatory coercive-control training for judges and court clerks, with refresher training every five years.
    • Requires OCA to develop bench cards, guidance, and forms.

  5. Civil right-of-action for coercive control

    • New Domestic Relations Law article 4 allowing a private right of action in Supreme Court for coercive control.
    • Permits compensatory, emotional-distress, punitive damages where appropriate, and attorney’s fees.
    • Caps/limitations: six-year statute of limitations from the last act; does not apply to conduct justified as reasonable parental authority.
    • Remedies include equitable relief (injunctions, declaratory relief) and cannot be waived by private agreements.

  6. Cross-reference with other laws

    • Criminal Procedure Law and Family Court Act references expanded to align definitions and protections.
    • The act ties coercive control to child custody considerations where relevant, requiring courts to consider DV/coercive-control findings in custody determinations and allowing joint proceedings in overlapping cases.

Who is affected

  • Individuals experiencing coercive control or domestic violence.
  • Respondents accused of coercive control and related acts.
  • Judges, court personnel, and clerks handling family court, criminal court, and domestic relations matters.
  • Parties seeking protection orders or pursuing civil damages in Supreme Court.
  • Families and households, particularly where custody or visitation is at issue.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: 180 days after enactment; immediate action on implementational rules and forms as needed.
  • Training: mandatory refresher training every five years for judges and relevant staff.
  • Civil action: six-year statute of limitations for coercive-control claims.
  • Forms and procedures: courts must update protection-order forms to include coercive control; guidance materials to be issued by OCA.

Overall, the bill aims to enhance recognition, protection, and accountability for coercive control through integrated civil and criminal mechanisms and targeted judicial training.

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

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