NY A11539

Creates a new crime of "Endangering the Welfare of a Child in the First Degree" as a Class E felony, applicable when a person knowingly acts to injure a child under 17 and the child sustains serious physical injury, or when a person previously convicted of this crime or endangering welfare in the second degree commits the offense again.

Redesignates the existing "Endangering the Welfare of a Child" as "Endangering the Welfare of a Child in the Second Degree," maintaining it as a Class A misdemeanor covering reckless acts and failures to exercise reasonable care by parents or guardians.

Requires corroborating evidence beyond victim testimony for convictions of endangering the welfare of a child in either degree when the victim is incapable of consent due to mental defect or mental incapacity and the conduct involves sex offenses as defined in Penal Law Section 130.16.

Adds endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree to the definition of "designated offender" under Executive Law Section 995, subjecting offenders to sex offender registration and notification requirements.

Takes effect November 1 following enactment.