Vote: Committee vote · Codes
Senate CodesMay 18, 2026Result: failed
(6) (7) (0) (0)
Senate bill · S1933 (2025-26)
Enacts "Paula's law"
Latest action May 18, 2026
New York State Senate
Same as A5783, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Summary
Provides that being eighteen years old or more, while in the course of committing rape in the first, second or third degree, criminal sexual act in the first, second or third degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse in the first, second, third or fourth degree, or incest in the first, second or third degree, against a person less than eighteen years old, such defendant intentionally causes the death of such person.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Penal Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 2, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
"Paula's Law" is designed to ensure that persons who molest and then murder a child under the age of eighteen will never be released from prison.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Where it stands
Assigned to a committee for review.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Codes · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Codes · New York State Senate.
Cosponsors
Anthony H. Palumbo, Dean Murray and 8 more on Agora
Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)- Republican10
Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.
The sponsor's argument
Why William Weber says this is needed
Currently, in New York State, there is no parole available to those who sexually assault and murder a child under age 14. This legislation, named for Paula Bohovesky, would expand that age range to a child under the age of eighteen. In 1980, sixteen-year-old Bohovesky was attacked and killed by Richard LaBarbera and Robert McCain as she was walking home from the library where she worked part-time in Pearl River. Both LaBarbera and McCain were convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder. In 2019, a parole board voted to release LaBarbera. A parole board released McCain in 2021. This legislation would prevent the parole of anyone who sexually assaults and murders a child under 18 years old. This is an expansion of "Joan's Law", which was enacted in 2004 and denied parole in these circumstances for child victims under the age of fourteen. Joan D'Alessandro was 7-years-old and disappeared after deliv- ering Girl Scout cookies to the Hillsdale home of a high school science teacher who later confessed to her murder.
This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.
Recorded votes
Full history
- May 18, 2026
Defeated in Codes
DEFEATED IN CODES
NY Senate
- Mar 19, 2026
In committee
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION - REQUESTED
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Senate
- May 13, 2025
Held for Consideration in Codes
HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN CODES
NY Assembly
Show full history (2 earlier events)Show less history
- Feb 20, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
- Jan 14, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Senate