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S 9798 NY

Prohibits using possession of reproductive or sexual health devices as evidence in a trial, hearing or proceeding in certain circumstances

NY · session 2025-2026 · Senate · bill

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Introduced Apr 6, 2026

Latest action (May 5, 2026) REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO CODES

Summary

This bill prohibits possession of condoms or other reproductive and sexual health devices from being used as evidence in criminal prosecutions for prostitution or related offenses. It defines reproductive or sexual health devices to include condoms, lubricants, contraceptives, emergency contraception, and similar items used to prevent pregnancy or disease transmission. The prohibition applies to criminal trials, civil proceedings, administrative hearings, and also prevents possession from being used to establish probable cause for arrest. The bill requires police training on the evidentiary prohibition and prohibits unauthorized seizure or confiscation of such devices.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Official abstract

Provides that possession of a condom or other reproductive or sexual health device may not be received in evidence in any trial, hearing or proceeding as evidence of conduct which would constitute an offense defined in article 230 of the penal law.

Sponsor (1)

6 coauthors / cosponsors

Action history (2)

  1. Apr 6, 2026 REFERRED TO JUDICIARY · upper
  2. May 5, 2026 REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO CODES · upper

Text versions (2)

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

  • S9798 · HTML
  • S9798 · PDF

Full text

Full text imported from assembly.state.ny.us

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New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie

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Bill No.: Summary Actions Committee&nbspVotes Floor&nbspVotes Memo Text LFIN Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript S09798 Summary: BILL NO S09798 &nbsp SAME AS SAME AS A00178

&nbsp SPONSOR SEPULVEDA &nbsp COSPNSR KRUEGER, MYRIE, PARKER, RAMOS, SALAZAR, STAVISKY &nbsp MLTSPNSR &nbsp Add §4519-b, CPLR; amd §60.47, CP L; amd §841, Exec L &nbsp Provides that possession of a condom or other reproductive or sexual health device may not be received in evidence in any trial, hearing or proceeding as evidence of conduct which would constitute an offense defined in article 230 of the penal law.

Go to top S09798 Text:

STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________

9798

IN SENATE

April 6, 2026 ___________

Introduced by Sens. SEPULVEDA, KRUEGER, RAMOS, SALAZAR, STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary

AN ACT to amend the civil practice law and rules, the criminal procedure law and the executive law, in relation to prohibiting possession of reproductive or sexual health devices from being permitted in speci- fied criminal or civil proceedings as evidence of prostitution

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

1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "end crimi- 2 nalization of condoms act". 3 § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds that promoting 4 and protecting health and respecting and fulfilling human rights are 5 necessarily linked, and that health-oriented and rights-based law 6 enforcement efforts are central to the effective provision of government 7 services for the benefit of the people of the state. Section 3 of arti- 8 cle 17 of the New York state constitution requires that the legislature 9 protect and promote the health of the inhabitants of this state as a 10 matter of public concern. Despite these provisions, for purposes of 11 prosecuting certain criminal, civil and administrative offenses, repro- 12 ductive and sexual health tools, including condoms, are currently being 13 destroyed, confiscated, or used as evidence by law enforcement officers. 14 This legislation is intended to strengthen the public health of all New 15 Yorkers, including the most vulnerable, while preserving the ability of 16 law enforcement to prosecute other crimes such as felony sexual 17 offenses. The purpose of this act is to avoid the disparate impact of 18 the practice of citing condoms and other reproductive and sexual health 19 tools as evidence upon survivors of trafficking and people who are or 20 are profiled as being engaged in the sex trades. 21 § 3. The civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new 22 section 4519-b to read as follows: 23 § 4519-b. Possession of reproductive or sexual health devices; receipt 24 into evidence. 1. Evidence that a person was in possession of a condom 25 or other reproductive or sexual health device may not be received in

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00164-01-5

S. 9798 2

1 evidence in any trial, hearing or proceeding pursuant to subdivision one 2 of section twelve and article ten of the multiple dwelling law, sections 3 twelve-a and twenty-three hundred twenty of the public health law, 4 section two hundred thirty-one of the real property law or subdivision 5 five of section seven hundred eleven and section seven hundred fifteen 6 of the real property actions and proceedings law, or by any law, local 7 law or ordinance of a municipality or political subdivision of the 8 state, or any word, rule, or regulation of any governmental instrumen- 9 tality authorized by law to adopt the same as evidence of conduct which 10 would constitute an offense defined in article two hundred thirty of the 11 penal law. 12 2. "Reproductive or sexual health device" shall include, but shall not 13 be limited to, any contraceptive or other tool used to prevent unwanted 14 pregnancy or the transmission of HIV or other sexually transmitted 15 diseases, including but not limited to male condoms, female condoms, 16 lubricants, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis 17 (PEP), HIV anti-retroviral medication, spermicide, hormonal methods, 18 emergency contraception, diaphragm, cervical cap, or sponge. 19 § 4. Section 60.47 of the criminal procedure law, as amended by chap- 20 ter 23 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows: 21 § 60.47 Possession of condoms or other reproductive or sexual health 22 device ; receipt into evidence. 23 1. Evidence that a person was in possession of one or more condoms or 24 other reproductive or sexual health device may not be admitted at any 25 trial, hearing, or other proceeding in a prosecution for [ section 26 230.00 ] any offense, or an attempt to commit any offense, defined in 27 article two hundred thirty of the penal law , or section sixty-five 28 hundred twelve of the education law, or any law, local law or ordinance 29 of a municipality or political subdivision of the state, or any word, 30 rule or regulation of any governmental instrumentality authorized by law 31 to adopt the same, for the purpose of establishing probable cause for an 32 arrest or proving any person's commission or attempted commission of 33 such offense. 34 2. "Reproductive or sexual health device" shall include, but shall not 35 be limited to, any contraceptive or other tool used to prevent unwanted 36 pregnancy or the transmission of HIV or other sexually transmitted 37 diseases, including but not limited to male condoms, female condoms, 38 lubricants, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis 39 (PEP), HIV anti-retroviral medication, spermicide, hormonal methods, 40 emergency contraception, diaphragm, cervical cap, or sponge. 41 § 5. Section 841 of the executive law is amended by adding a new 42 subdivision 7-c to read as follows: 43 7-c. Take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that all police 44 officers and peace officers certified pursuant to subdivision three of 45 this section receive appropriate instruction regarding the evidentiary 46 prohibition set forth in section 60.47 of the criminal procedure law and 47 section forty-five hundred nineteen-b of the civil practice law and 48 rules relating to the use of condoms and other reproductive or sexual 49 health devices as evidence in certain trials, hearings or proceedings, 50 or as a basis for probable cause for arrest, including that unauthorized 51 seizure or confiscation of condoms and other reproductive or sexual 52 health devices as a breach of public policy; 53 § 6. If any provision of this legislation or the application thereof 54 to any person, circumstances, or political subdivision of this state is 55 adjudged invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction such judgment 56 shall not affect or impair the validity of the other provisions of the

S. 9798 3

1 legislation or the application thereof to other political subdivisions 2 of this state, persons, and circumstances. 3 § 7. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed- 4 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.

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