NY S05681

Eliminates the distinction between second felony drug offenders whose prior conviction was a violent felony versus a non-violent felony, applying the same sentencing rules to both categories

Repeals subdivision 4 of section 70.70 of the penal law, which previously established separate, harsher sentencing guidelines for second felony drug offenders with prior violent felony convictions

Narrows the eligibility exclusions for judicial diversion programs by removing prior violent felony offenses and certain other offenses from the list of disqualifying convictions, leaving only prior class A felony offenses as disqualifying

Applies to all cases where sentencing occurs on or after the effective date of the act

Sponsored by Senators Salazar, Brisport, Gonzalez, and Jackson and referred to the Committee on Codes