Bill Text: NY A09768 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Amended


Bill Title: Criminalizes acting as a runner or soliciting or employing a runner to procure patients or clients.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-06-01 - print number 9768a [A09768 Detail]

Download: New_York-2011-A09768-Amended.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                        9768--A
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                     April 2, 2012
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABINAN-
         TI,  RAIA  --  read  once  and  referred  to the Committee on Codes --
         committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended  and
         recommitted to said committee
       AN  ACT  to  amend  the  penal  law  and  the criminal procedure law, in
         relation to criminalizing acting as a runner or soliciting or  employ-
         ing a runner to procure patients or clients
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Section 176.00 of the penal law is amended by  adding  four
    2  new subdivisions 6, 7, 8 and 9 to read as follows:
    3    6.  "PROVIDER" MEANS AN ATTORNEY, A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, AN OWNER
    4  OR OPERATOR OF A HEALTH  CARE  PRACTICE  OR  FACILITY,  ANY  PERSON  WHO
    5  CREATES  THE  IMPRESSION  THAT  HE  OR  SHE,  OR HIS OR HER PRACTICE CAN
    6  PROVIDE LEGAL OR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, ANY PERSON EMPLOYED OR ACTING  ON
    7  BEHALF  OF  ANY  SUCH  PERSON,  OR  ANY  PERSON  PROVIDING MANAGEMENT OR
    8  CONSULTING SERVICES TO ANY SUCH PERSON.
    9    7. "PUBLIC MEDIA" MEANS TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES,  PROFESSIONAL  DIRECTO-
   10  RIES,  NEWSPAPERS  AND  OTHER  PERIODICALS,  RADIO AND TELEVISION, BILL-
   11  BOARDS, AND MAILED OR ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED WRITTEN  COMMUNICATIONS
   12  THAT  DO  NOT INVOLVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH A SPECIFIC PROSPECTIVE CLIENT,
   13  PATIENT, OR CUSTOMER.
   14    8. "RUNNER" MEANS A PERSON WHO, FOR A PECUNIARY BENEFIT,  PROCURES  OR
   15  ATTEMPTS  TO  PROCURE A CLIENT, PATIENT OR CUSTOMER AT THE DIRECTION OF,
   16  REQUEST OF OR IN COOPERATION WITH A PROVIDER WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO SEEK TO
   17  OBTAIN BENEFITS UNDER A CONTRACT OF INSURANCE OR ASSERT A CLAIM  AGAINST
   18  AN INSURED OR AN INSURANCE CARRIER FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE CLIENT,
   19  PATIENT  OR  CUSTOMER,  OR  TO  OBTAIN  BENEFITS UNDER OR ASSERT A CLAIM
   20  AGAINST A STATE OR FEDERAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS PROGRAM OR  PRESCRIPTION
   21  DRUG  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM.   "RUNNER" SHALL NOT INCLUDE (A) A PERSON WHO
   22  PROCURES OR ATTEMPTS TO PROCURE CLIENTS, PATIENTS  OR  CUSTOMERS  FOR  A
   23  PROVIDER THROUGH PUBLIC MEDIA; (B) A PERSON WHO REFERS CLIENTS, PATIENTS
   24  OR  CUSTOMERS AS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY LAW; OR (C) A PERSON WHO, AS AN
   25  AGENT, BROKER OR  EMPLOYEE  OF  A  HEALTH  MAINTENANCE  ORGANIZATION  AS
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD06170-16-2
       A. 9768--A                          2
    1  DEFINED  IN  SECTION  FORTY-FOUR  HUNDRED  ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW,
    2  SEEKS TO SELL HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION COVERAGE OR HEALTH  INSUR-
    3  ANCE COVERAGE TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP.
    4    9.  "PECUNIARY  BENEFIT"  MEANS  GOODS,  MONEY,  PROPERTY, SERVICES OR
    5  ANYTHING OF VALUE, OR AN AGREEMENT TO CONFER OR RECEIVE ANY SUCH  GOODS,
    6  MONEY, PROPERTY, SERVICES, OR THING OF VALUE.
    7    S  2.  The  penal  law is amended by adding three new sections 176.75,
    8  176.80 and 176.85 to read as follows:
    9  S 176.75 UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS  IN  THE
   10               THIRD DEGREE.
   11    A  PERSON  IS  GUILTY  OF UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR
   12  CUSTOMERS IN THE THIRD DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE KNOWINGLY:
   13    1. ACTS AS A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS; OR
   14    2. USES, SOLICITS, DIRECTS, HIRES OR EMPLOYS ANOTHER PERSON TO ACT  AS
   15  A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS.
   16    UNLAWFUL  PROCUREMENT  OF  CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS IN THE THIRD
   17  DEGREE IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR.
   18  S 176.80 UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS  IN  THE
   19               SECOND DEGREE.
   20    A  PERSON  IS  GUILTY  OF UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR
   21  CUSTOMERS IN THE SECOND DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE KNOWINGLY:
   22    1. ACTS AS A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS FOR A  PECUNIARY  BENEFIT
   23  THAT IN THE AGGREGATE EXCEEDS TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN VALUE
   24  OR ACTS AS A RUNNER ON FIVE OR MORE OCCASIONS; OR
   25    2.  USES,  SOLICITS,  DIRECTS, HIRES OR EMPLOYS ONE OR MORE PERSONS TO
   26  ACT AS A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS FOR A PECUNIARY BENEFIT THAT IN
   27  THE AGGREGATE EXCEEDS TWO THOUSAND FIVE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  IN  VALUE  OR
   28  USES,  SOLICITS, DIRECTS, HIRES OR EMPLOYS ONE OR MORE PERSONS TO ACT AS
   29  A RUNNER ON FIVE OR MORE OCCASIONS.
   30    UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS IN  THE  SECOND
   31  DEGREE IS A CLASS E FELONY.
   32  S  176.85  UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS IN THE
   33               FIRST DEGREE.
   34    A PERSON IS GUILTY OF UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT  OF  CLIENTS,  PATIENTS  OR
   35  CUSTOMERS IN THE FIRST DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE KNOWINGLY:
   36    1.  ACTS  AS A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS FOR A PECUNIARY BENEFIT
   37  THAT IN THE AGGREGATE EXCEEDS FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN VALUE OR ACTS  AS
   38  A RUNNER ON TEN OR MORE OCCASIONS; OR
   39    2.  USES,  SOLICITS,  DIRECTS, HIRES OR EMPLOYS ONE OR MORE PERSONS TO
   40  ACT AS A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS FOR A PECUNIARY BENEFIT THAT IN
   41  THE AGGREGATE EXCEEDS FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR USES, SOLICITS,  DIRECTS,
   42  HIRES  OR  EMPLOYS ONE OR MORE PERSONS TO ACT AS A RUNNER ON TEN OR MORE
   43  OCCASIONS.
   44    UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS  IN  THE  FIRST
   45  DEGREE IS A CLASS D FELONY.
   46    S  3.  Paragraph  (a)  of subdivision 1 of section 460.10 of the penal
   47  law, as amended by chapter 405 of the laws of 2010, is amended  to  read
   48  as follows:
   49    (a)  Any  of  the felonies set forth in this chapter: sections 120.05,
   50  120.10 and 120.11 relating to assault; sections 121.12 and 121.13 relat-
   51  ing to strangulation; sections 125.10 to 125.27  relating  to  homicide;
   52  sections 130.25, 130.30 and 130.35 relating to rape; sections 135.20 and
   53  135.25  relating  to  kidnapping; section 135.35 relating to labor traf-
   54  ficking; section 135.65 relating to coercion;  sections  140.20,  140.25
   55  and  140.30  relating  to  burglary;  sections 145.05, 145.10 and 145.12
   56  relating to criminal mischief; article one  hundred  fifty  relating  to
       A. 9768--A                          3
    1  arson;  sections  155.30,  155.35,  155.40  and 155.42 relating to grand
    2  larceny; sections 177.10, 177.15, 177.20 and 177.25 relating  to  health
    3  care  fraud;  article  one  hundred  sixty relating to robbery; sections
    4  165.45,  165.50,  165.52  and  165.54 relating to criminal possession of
    5  stolen property; sections 165.72 and 165.73 relating to trademark  coun-
    6  terfeiting;  sections 170.10, 170.15, 170.25, 170.30, 170.40, 170.65 and
    7  170.70 relating to forgery; sections 175.10, 175.25, 175.35, 175.40  and
    8  210.40 relating to false statements; sections 176.15, 176.20, 176.25 and
    9  176.30  relating to insurance fraud; SECTIONS 176.80 AND 176.85 RELATING
   10  TO UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF  CLIENTS,  PATIENTS  OR  CUSTOMERS;  sections
   11  178.20 and 178.25 relating to criminal diversion of prescription medica-
   12  tions  and  prescriptions;  sections  180.03,  180.08,  180.15,  180.25,
   13  180.40, 180.45, 200.00, 200.03, 200.04, 200.10, 200.11, 200.12,  200.20,
   14  200.22,  200.25,  200.27, 215.00, 215.05 and 215.19 relating to bribery;
   15  sections 187.10, 187.15, 187.20 and 187.25 relating to residential mort-
   16  gage fraud, sections 190.40  and  190.42  relating  to  criminal  usury;
   17  section  190.65  relating  to  schemes  to  defraud; sections 205.60 and
   18  205.65 relating to hindering prosecution; sections 210.10,  210.15,  and
   19  215.51  relating  to  perjury  and  contempt; section 215.40 relating to
   20  tampering with  physical  evidence;  sections  220.06,  220.09,  220.16,
   21  220.18,  220.21, 220.31, 220.34, 220.39, 220.41, 220.43, 220.46, 220.55,
   22  220.60 and 220.77 relating to controlled substances; sections 225.10 and
   23  225.20 relating to gambling; sections 230.25, 230.30, and 230.32  relat-
   24  ing  to promoting prostitution; section 230.34 relating to sex traffick-
   25  ing; sections 235.06, 235.07, 235.21 and 235.22 relating  to  obscenity;
   26  sections 263.10 and 263.15 relating to promoting a sexual performance by
   27  a child; sections 265.02, 265.03, 265.04, 265.11, 265.12, 265.13 and the
   28  provisions  of  section  265.10  which  constitute  a felony relating to
   29  firearms and other dangerous weapons; and  sections  265.14  and  265.16
   30  relating  to  criminal  sale  of  a firearm; and section 275.10, 275.20,
   31  275.30, or 275.40 relating  to  unauthorized  recordings;  and  sections
   32  470.05, 470.10, 470.15 and 470.20 relating to money laundering; or
   33    S  4. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 8 of section 700.05 of the criminal
   34  procedure law, as amended by chapter 405 of the laws of 2010, is amended
   35  to read as follows:
   36    (b) Any of the following felonies: assault in  the  second  degree  as
   37  defined  in section 120.05 of the penal law, assault in the first degree
   38  as defined in section 120.10 of the penal law, reckless endangerment  in
   39  the  first degree as defined in section 120.25 of the penal law, promot-
   40  ing a suicide attempt as defined in section 120.30  of  the  penal  law,
   41  strangulation  in  the second degree as defined in section 121.12 of the
   42  penal law, strangulation in the  first  degree  as  defined  in  section
   43  121.13  of  the  penal  law, criminally negligent homicide as defined in
   44  section 125.10 of the penal law, manslaughter in the  second  degree  as
   45  defined  in  section  125.15 of the penal law, manslaughter in the first
   46  degree as defined in section 125.20 of the  penal  law,  murder  in  the
   47  second  degree  as defined in section 125.25 of the penal law, murder in
   48  the first degree as defined in section 125.27 of the penal law, abortion
   49  in the second degree as defined in section  125.40  of  the  penal  law,
   50  abortion  in  the first degree as defined in section 125.45 of the penal
   51  law, rape in the third degree as defined in section 130.25 of the  penal
   52  law, rape in the second degree as defined in section 130.30 of the penal
   53  law,  rape in the first degree as defined in section 130.35 of the penal
   54  law, criminal sexual act in the  third  degree  as  defined  in  section
   55  130.40  of  the  penal  law, criminal sexual act in the second degree as
   56  defined in section 130.45 of the penal law, criminal sexual act  in  the
       A. 9768--A                          4
    1  first degree as defined in section 130.50 of the penal law, sexual abuse
    2  in  the  first  degree  as  defined  in section 130.65 of the penal law,
    3  unlawful imprisonment in the first degree as defined in  section  135.10
    4  of  the penal law, kidnapping in the second degree as defined in section
    5  135.20 of the penal law, kidnapping in the first degree  as  defined  in
    6  section 135.25 of the penal law, labor trafficking as defined in section
    7  135.35  of  the penal law, custodial interference in the first degree as
    8  defined in section 135.50 of the penal law, coercion in the first degree
    9  as defined in section 135.65 of the penal law, criminal trespass in  the
   10  first  degree as defined in section 140.17 of the penal law, burglary in
   11  the third degree as defined in section 140.20 of the penal law, burglary
   12  in the second degree as defined in section  140.25  of  the  penal  law,
   13  burglary  in  the first degree as defined in section 140.30 of the penal
   14  law, criminal mischief in the third degree as defined in section  145.05
   15  of  the  penal law, criminal mischief in the second degree as defined in
   16  section 145.10 of the penal law, criminal mischief in the  first  degree
   17  as defined in section 145.12 of the penal law, criminal tampering in the
   18  first degree as defined in section 145.20 of the penal law, arson in the
   19  fourth  degree  as  defined in section 150.05 of the penal law, arson in
   20  the third degree as defined in section 150.10 of the penal law, arson in
   21  the second degree as defined in section 150.15 of the penal  law,  arson
   22  in the first degree as defined in section 150.20 of the penal law, grand
   23  larceny  in  the fourth degree as defined in section 155.30 of the penal
   24  law, grand larceny in the third degree as defined in section  155.35  of
   25  the  penal law, grand larceny in the second degree as defined in section
   26  155.40 of the penal law, grand larceny in the first degree as defined in
   27  section 155.42 of the penal law, health care fraud in the fourth  degree
   28  as  defined in section 177.10 of the penal law, health care fraud in the
   29  third degree as defined in section 177.15 of the penal law, health  care
   30  fraud  in  the  second  degree as defined in section 177.20 of the penal
   31  law, health care fraud in the first degree as defined in section  177.25
   32  of  the  penal  law,  robbery  in the third degree as defined in section
   33  160.05 of the penal law, robbery in the  second  degree  as  defined  in
   34  section  160.10 of the penal law, robbery in the first degree as defined
   35  in section 160.15 of the penal law, unlawful use  of  secret  scientific
   36  material  as  defined  in  section  165.07  of  the  penal law, criminal
   37  possession of stolen property in the fourth degree as defined in section
   38  165.45 of the penal law, criminal possession of stolen property  in  the
   39  third  degree  as  defined  in section 165.50 of the penal law, criminal
   40  possession of stolen property in the second degree as defined by section
   41  165.52 of the penal law, criminal possession of stolen property  in  the
   42  first  degree  as  defined by section 165.54 of the penal law, trademark
   43  counterfeiting in the second degree as defined in section 165.72 of  the
   44  penal  law,  trademark  counterfeiting in the first degree as defined in
   45  section 165.73 of the penal law, forgery in the second degree as defined
   46  in section 170.10 of the penal law,  forgery  in  the  first  degree  as
   47  defined  in  section  170.15  of the penal law, criminal possession of a
   48  forged instrument in the second degree as defined in section  170.25  of
   49  the  penal  law, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first
   50  degree  as  defined  in  section  170.30  of  the  penal  law,  criminal
   51  possession  of forgery devices as defined in section 170.40 of the penal
   52  law, falsifying business records in  the  first  degree  as  defined  in
   53  section  175.10  of  the penal law, tampering with public records in the
   54  first degree as defined in section 175.25 of the penal law,  offering  a
   55  false  instrument  for  filing in the first degree as defined in section
   56  175.35 of the penal law, issuing  a  false  certificate  as  defined  in
       A. 9768--A                          5
    1  section  175.40  of  the  penal  law,  UNLAWFUL  PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS,
    2  PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS IN THE SECOND DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION  176.80
    3  OF THE PENAL LAW, UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS
    4  IN THE FIRST DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 176.85 OF THE PENAL LAW, crim-
    5  inal  diversion  of  prescription  medications  and prescriptions in the
    6  second degree as defined in section 178.20 of the  penal  law,  criminal
    7  diversion  of  prescription  medications  and prescriptions in the first
    8  degree as defined in section 178.25 of the penal law, residential  mort-
    9  gage  fraud  in  the  fourth  degree as defined in section 187.10 of the
   10  penal law, residential mortgage fraud in the third degree as defined  in
   11  section  187.15  of  the  penal  law,  residential mortgage fraud in the
   12  second degree as defined in section 187.20 of the penal law, residential
   13  mortgage fraud in the first degree as defined in section 187.25  of  the
   14  penal  law,  escape in the second degree as defined in section 205.10 of
   15  the penal law, escape in the first degree as defined in  section  205.15
   16  of  the penal law, absconding from temporary release in the first degree
   17  as defined in section 205.17 of the penal law, promoting prison  contra-
   18  band  in the first degree as defined in section 205.25 of the penal law,
   19  hindering prosecution in the second degree as defined in section  205.60
   20  of  the  penal law, hindering prosecution in the first degree as defined
   21  in section 205.65 of the  penal  law,  sex  trafficking  as  defined  in
   22  section  230.34 of the penal law, criminal possession of a weapon in the
   23  third degree as defined in subdivisions two, three and five  of  section
   24  265.02  of  the penal law, criminal possession of a weapon in the second
   25  degree  as  defined  in  section  265.03  of  the  penal  law,  criminal
   26  possession  of a weapon in the first degree as defined in section 265.04
   27  of the penal law, manufacture, transport, disposition and defacement  of
   28  weapons  and dangerous instruments and appliances defined as felonies in
   29  subdivisions one, two, and three of section 265.10  of  the  penal  law,
   30  sections  265.11,  265.12 and 265.13 of the penal law, or prohibited use
   31  of weapons as defined in subdivision two of section 265.35 of the  penal
   32  law,  relating  to  firearms  and other dangerous weapons, or failure to
   33  disclose the origin of a recording in the first  degree  as  defined  in
   34  section 275.40 of the penal law;
   35    S 5. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed-
   36  ing the date upon which it shall have become a law.
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