Relates to masked harassment

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

In the State of New York, there has been a resurgence of masked harass- ment and intimidation in which individuals have intentionally hidden their identities with face coverings in order to menace, harass, threat- en, and place others in fear for their physical safety. Anti-masked harassment laws, which were previously codified in New York, were an effective deterrent against this conduct. The purpose of this bill is to prioritize once again public safety by reintroducing the crime of masked harassment and ensuring that existing aggravated harassment laws cover this conduct. The new prohibition of masked harassment is limited to the intentional concealment of a person's face and identity with the intent to menace, threaten, or place another person or group in reason- able fear for their physical safety. This bill also amends the crime of aggravated harassment in the second degree to include provisions related to masked harassment. This bill is intended to adhere to and uphold free speech protections enshrined in the U.S. and New York Constitutions and provides specific carve-outs for face coverings worn for, among other reasons, the protection of one's health and safety or religious reasons. Nothing in this bill is intended to be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States or Article I of the Constitution of the State of New York.

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.