S 4565: Creates the office of expungement and automatic sealing within the division of criminal justice services to oversee the sealing and expungement of certain convictions.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4565 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 7, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, COMRIE, FERNANDEZ, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, MYRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the office of expungement and automatic sealing within the division of criminal justice services 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 837-y 2 to read as follows: 3 § 837-y. Office of expungement and automatic sealing. 1. Definitions. 4 As used in the section, the following terms shall have the following 5 meanings: 6 (a) "eligible conviction" shall mean a conviction which is eligible to 7 be sealed and/or expunged under section 160.50, 160.55, 160.58 or 160.59 8 of the criminal procedure law. 9 (b) "office" shall mean the office of expungement and automatic seal- 10 ing as established by this section. 11 2. Establishment of office. There is hereby established within the 12 division of criminal justice services the office of expungement and 13 automatic sealing which shall oversee the sealing and/or expungement of 14 all eligible convictions. 15 3. Duties and responsibilities. The office shall: 16 (a) inform the defendant and such defendant's attorney that an eligi- 17 ble conviction can be sealed and/or expunged; 18 (b) ensure all eligible convictions are sealed and/or expunged accu- 19 rately and in a timely manner; 20 (c) act as an advocate for those with eligible convictions to get such 21 convictions sealed and/or expunged; 22 (d) advise the governor and the legislature on the impact of having 23 eligible convictions sealed and/or expunged; and EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08663-01-5 
 S. 4565 2 1 (e) develop regulations, standards, guidelines, and best practices for 2 ensuring accurate and timely sealing and/or expungement of eligible 3 convictions. 4 4. Other state agencies shall provide cooperation and assistance to 5 the office so as to assist it in the effective performance of its 6 duties. 7 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.