New York A 10166: Establishes the division of the crime victims' statewide advocate to represent crime victims' legal interests

Bill Text

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A10166 Summary:

BILL NOA10166 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S07296

&nbsp

SPONSORMcDonough

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §631-b, Exec L

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Establishes the division of the crime victims' statewide advocate to represent crime victims' and witnesses' legal interests during discovery and trial and assist with victim compensation applications.

Go to top A10166 Actions:

BILL NOA10166 

&nbsp

02/12/2026referred to governmental operations

Go to topA10166 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA10166 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA10166 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 10166

 IN ASSEMBLY

 February 12, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. McDONOUGH -- read once and referred to the
 Committee on Governmental Operations

 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the divi-
 sion of the crime victims' statewide advocate to represent crime
 victims' legal interests

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 631-b
 2 to read as follows:
 3 § 631-b. Crime victims' statewide advocate. 1. For the purposes of
 4 this section:
 5 (a) "advocate" means the crime victims' advocate, the individual head
 6 of the division of the crime victims' statewide advocate;
 7 (b) "the division" means the division of the crime victims' statewide
 8 advocate, as established by this section; and
 9 (c) "the director" means the director of the office of victim
 10 services.
 11 2. There is hereby established within the office of victim services
 12 the division of the crime victims' statewide advocate, the head of which
 13 shall be the crime victims' advocate. The crime victims' advocate shall
 14 be appointed by the director of the office with the advice of the
 15 office's advisory council, shall receive a salary to be fixed by the
 16 director within the amount appropriated therefor, and shall not be
 17 discharged except for just cause.
 18 3. The crime victims' advocate, subject to rules prescribed by the
 19 director or the governor, shall establish bureaus or local offices in
 20 each county under the division of the crime victims' advocate as such
 21 advocate may deem necessary and may appoint such deputies, assistants,
 22 and other employees as may be needed for the performance of such advo-
 23 cate's duties and the mission of the division and may prescribe their
 24 powers and duties and fix their compensation within the amount appropri-
 25 ated therefor. The principal office of the division shall be in the city
 26 of Albany, there shall be at least one office of substantial presence in
 27 the city of New York, and there shall be an office of adequate presence

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD11386-04-5

 A. 10166 2

 1 within each county. Branch offices may be established at the discretion
 2 of the director or the governor, subject to appropriations for mainte-
 3 nance of such offices.
 4 4. The office of crime victims' statewide advocate shall have the
 5 following powers and duties:
 6 (a) provide legal representation to victims and witnesses of crimes
 7 who are served with judicial orders to allow criminal defendants or
 8 their representatives to gain access to such victim or witness's home or
 9 place of business, pursuant to subdivision two of section 245.30 of the
 10 criminal procedure law;
 11 (b) provide legal representation to any crime victim or witness with
 12 regard to any legal action related to section 245.30 of the criminal
 13 procedure law;
 14 (c) provide legal assistance with any victim compensation applica-
 15 tions, provided, however, such victim has exhausted other assistance
 16 available through the office, absent extenuating circumstances;
 17 (d) provide information on victims' and witnesses' legal rights and
 18 protections with regard to criminal process; and
 19 (e) assist victims to submit comments and statements to courts and
 20 parole boards.
 21 § 2. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or part
 22 of this law or the application thereof to any person or