STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          3236

                               2021-2022 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    January 22, 2021
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M. of A. SAYEGH, GLICK, NIOU, DICKENS, HEVESI, REILLY --
          read once and referred to the Committee on Codes

        AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to electronic dart  guns  and
          electronic stun guns

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

     1    Section 1. Subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal law is amended
     2  by adding two new paragraphs 17 and 18 to read as follows:
     3    17. Possession in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph  of
     4  an  electronic  dart  gun  or an electronic stun gun, as those terms are
     5  defined in section 265.00 of this  article,  for  the  protection  of  a
     6  person  or  property  on real estate that such person owns or leases, or
     7  where such person resides, or within the confines of a  business  estab-
     8  lishment  that  such  person  owns or leases, and use of such electronic
     9  dart gun or electronic stun gun under circumstances which would  justify
    10  the  use of physical force pursuant to article thirty-five of this chap-
    11  ter.
    12    (a) The exemption provided for under this paragraph shall not apply to
    13  a person who: (i) is less than eighteen years  of  age;  (ii)  has  been
    14  previously  convicted in this state of a felony or any assault; or (iii)
    15  has been convicted of a crime outside the state of  New  York  which  if
    16  committed in New York would constitute a felony or any assault crime.
    17    (b)  The department of health, with the cooperation of the division of
    18  criminal justice services and the superintendent of state police,  shall
    19  develop standards and promulgate regulations regarding the type of elec-
    20  tronic  dart gun or electronic stun gun which may lawfully be purchased,
    21  possessed and used pursuant to this paragraph.   Such regulations  shall
    22  include  a  maximum  allowable  delivered charge for such devices, and a
    23  requirement that every electronic dart gun or electronic stun gun  which
    24  may  be lawfully purchased, possessed or used pursuant to this paragraph
    25  have a label which states: "WARNING: the use  of  this  device  for  any

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02578-01-1

        A. 3236                             2

     1  purpose  other  than  self-defense  is a criminal offense under the law.
     2  This device shall not be sold by another person, other than  a  licensed
     3  or  authorized dealer. Possession of this device by any person under the
     4  age  of  eighteen  or  by  anyone  who has been convicted of a felony or
     5  assault is illegal. Violators may be prosecuted under the law."
     6    18. Possession and sale of an electronic dart gun or  electronic  stun
     7  gun  as  defined  in  section  265.00  of  this  article, by a dealer in
     8  firearms licensed pursuant to section 400.00 of this chapter, or by  any
     9  other  vendor as may be authorized and approved by the superintendent of
    10  state police.
    11    (a) Every electronic dart gun or electronic stun gun shall be accompa-
    12  nied by an insert or inserts which include directions for use, first aid
    13  information, safety and storage information and which shall also contain
    14  a toll free telephone number for the purpose of allowing  any  purchaser
    15  to call and receive additional information regarding the availability of
    16  local courses in self-defense training and safety in the use of an elec-
    17  tronic dart gun or electronic stun gun.
    18    (b) Before delivering an electronic dart gun or electronic stun gun to
    19  any person, the licensed or authorized dealer shall require proof of age
    20  and  a sworn statement on a form approved by the superintendent of state
    21  police that such person has not been convicted of a felony or any  crime
    22  involving  an  assault. Such forms shall be forwarded to the division of
    23  state police at such intervals as  directed  by  the  superintendent  of
    24  state police. Absent any such direction the forms shall be maintained on
    25  the premises of the vendor and shall be open at all reasonable hours for
    26  inspection  by  any  peace officer or police officer, acting pursuant to
    27  his or her special duties. No more than two of any combination of  elec-
    28  tronic  dart guns or electronic stun guns may be sold at any one time to
    29  a single purchaser.
    30    § 2. Section 195.08 of the penal law, as added by chapter 354  of  the
    31  laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
    32  § 195.08 Obstructing  governmental administration by means of a self-de-
    33             fense spray device, electronic dart gun, or  electronic  stun
    34             gun.
    35    A person is guilty of obstructing governmental administration by means
    36  of  a self-defense spray device, electronic dart gun, or electronic stun
    37  gun when, with the intent to prevent a police officer or  peace  officer
    38  from  performing  a lawful duty, he causes temporary physical impairment
    39  to a police officer or peace  officer  by  intentionally  discharging  a
    40  self-defense  spray device, as defined in paragraph fourteen of subdivi-
    41  sion a of section 265.20 of this chapter, or an electronic dart  gun  or
    42  electronic  stun  gun,  as  defined  in  section 265.00 of this chapter,
    43  thereby causing such temporary physical impairment.
    44    Obstructing governmental administration by  means  of  a  self-defense
    45  spray  device,  electronic dart gun, or electronic stun gun is a class D
    46  felony.
    47    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.