NY S01159

Creates a new article in the penal law establishing "domestic violence crimes" when a person intentionally commits a specified offense against a member of the same family or household

Defines "specified offenses" to include a comprehensive list of crimes such as assault, menacing, stalking, strangulation, homicide, sexual offenses, kidnapping, coercion, burglary, criminal contempt, harassment, and related attempts or conspiracies

Defines "family or household members" as persons related by blood or marriage, current or former spouses, persons with a child in common, or unrelated persons who continually live or have lived together

Establishes enhanced sentencing provisions where domestic violence crimes may be elevated one category higher than the underlying offense (violations become misdemeanors, misdemeanors become felonies), and violent felony offenses remain violent felonies

Adds domestic violence crimes as qualifying offenses for bail eligibility and requires the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence to develop standards and certify accountability programs for persons who cause harm