On Jan. 1, several new laws take effect in New York,
including major changes to the criminal justice system.
New York will end cash bail for people accused of nonviolent
crimes, and prosecutors will have to promptly turn over to defendants the
evidence that they have against them.
Supporters say that in the past, those accused of crimes who
could not make bail spent weeks, or even months, in jail without learning what
evidence a prosecutor has against them until their trial began. Many pleaded
guilty to lesser charges without knowing if the prosecutor had evidence that
could exonerate them.
There has been backlash from law enforcement groups, though,
who say they are concerned that repeat offenders could walk free.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who shepherded the criminal
justice reforms through his chamber, said the new laws are meant to change a
"racist and classist system." He said other states, including
Republican-dominated Texas, have enacted similar reforms with no significant
negative consequences.
"Deep red states have made changes in criminal justice
reform," Heastie said. "I understand people are resistant to change.
I understand the district attorneys and the sheriffs are resistant to change.
But everywhere else that this has been done, it's been shown to be a more fair
system and has not led to an increase in crime."
Also in 2020, New Yorkers who earn the minimum wage will see
their pay go up. It increases to $15 an hour in New York City, $13 an hour on
Long Island and in Westchester, and $11.80 upstate.
Some of the state's elected officials also will be receiving
a pay raise.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with the
attorney general and state comptroller, will be getting a salary increase, but
members of the Legislature will not.
Senators and Assembly members for now won't get the second
phase of a pay raise approved in late 2018 by a commission. Legislators
received the first portion of their raise in 2019, when their annual salaries
went from $79,500 to $110,000.
But the second and third years of the raise, which would
ultimately result in a $130,000 salary, was linked to strict limits in outside
income. Two former legislative leaders were sentenced to prison in scandals
linked to outside pay.
Some lawmakers challenged the provision to limit other
income in court and won. The case is on appeal, but for now, the state
comptroller's office said the pay raise will not be included in legislators'
paychecks in 2020. If the lower court ruling is ultimately overturned, then the
raises would be reinstated, and lawmakers would be paid the additional money,
retroactively, from the beginning of the year.
The commission did not place any restrictions on outside
income for statewide offices. The governor, who was paid $179,000 a year, saw a
pay increase to $200,000 in 2019, and will receive $225,000 a year in 2020 and
$250,000 in 2021. The lieutenant governor, attorney general, and comptroller
will receive $210,000 a year in 2020, from $151,500 in 2018.
The paid family leave law expands in 2020, and farmworkers
for the first time will be eligible for the benefit. They, along with other
workers, can take up to 10 weeks off to care for sick family member or a new
baby, and receive 60% of their wages, capped at $840.70 a week.
Later in the year, on March 1, single-use plastic bags will
be outlawed, although uncertainties remain over just how the state will carry
out the new law.
Both opponents and advocates, including Liz Moran of the New
York Public Interest Research Group, say new regulations issued by the state
Department of Environmental Conservation are confusing. "These regulations could really muddy
the water," Moran said.
Also new in 2020 is an earlier election cycle. For the first
time, primary elections for state offices will be held in June, at the same
time as primaries for federal offices. That means challengers need to start
gathering petitions in February.
