S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         4597
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   February 6, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABINAN-
         TI, RAIA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
       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
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD08465-01-3
       A. 4597                             2
    1  AGENT, BROKER OR  EMPLOYEE  OF  A  HEALTH  MAINTENANCE  ORGANIZATION  AS
    2  DEFINED  IN  SECTION  FORTY-FOUR  HUNDRED  ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW,
    3  SEEKS TO SELL HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION COVERAGE OR HEALTH  INSUR-
    4  ANCE COVERAGE TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP.
    5    9.  "PECUNIARY  BENEFIT"  MEANS  GOODS,  MONEY,  PROPERTY, SERVICES OR
    6  ANYTHING OF VALUE, OR AN AGREEMENT TO CONFER OR RECEIVE ANY SUCH  GOODS,
    7  MONEY, PROPERTY, SERVICES, OR THING OF VALUE.
    8    S  2.  The  penal  law is amended by adding three new sections 176.75,
    9  176.80 and 176.85 to read as follows:
   10  S 176.75 UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS  IN  THE
   11               THIRD DEGREE.
   12    A  PERSON  IS  GUILTY  OF UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR
   13  CUSTOMERS IN THE THIRD DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE KNOWINGLY:
   14    1. ACTS AS A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS; OR
   15    2. USES, SOLICITS, DIRECTS, HIRES OR EMPLOYS ANOTHER PERSON TO ACT  AS
   16  A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS.
   17    UNLAWFUL  PROCUREMENT  OF  CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS IN THE THIRD
   18  DEGREE IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR.
   19  S 176.80 UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS  IN  THE
   20               SECOND DEGREE.
   21    A  PERSON  IS  GUILTY  OF UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR
   22  CUSTOMERS IN THE SECOND DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE KNOWINGLY:
   23    1. ACTS AS A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS FOR A  PECUNIARY  BENEFIT
   24  THAT IN THE AGGREGATE EXCEEDS TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN VALUE
   25  OR ACTS AS A RUNNER ON FIVE OR MORE OCCASIONS; OR
   26    2.  USES,  SOLICITS,  DIRECTS, HIRES OR EMPLOYS ONE OR MORE PERSONS TO
   27  ACT AS A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS FOR A PECUNIARY BENEFIT THAT IN
   28  THE AGGREGATE EXCEEDS TWO THOUSAND FIVE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  IN  VALUE  OR
   29  USES,  SOLICITS, DIRECTS, HIRES OR EMPLOYS ONE OR MORE PERSONS TO ACT AS
   30  A RUNNER ON FIVE OR MORE OCCASIONS.
   31    UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS IN  THE  SECOND
   32  DEGREE IS A CLASS E FELONY.
   33  S  176.85  UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS IN THE
   34               FIRST DEGREE.
   35    A PERSON IS GUILTY OF UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT  OF  CLIENTS,  PATIENTS  OR
   36  CUSTOMERS IN THE FIRST DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE KNOWINGLY:
   37    1.  ACTS  AS A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS FOR A PECUNIARY BENEFIT
   38  THAT IN THE AGGREGATE EXCEEDS FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN VALUE OR ACTS  AS
   39  A RUNNER ON TEN OR MORE OCCASIONS; OR
   40    2.  USES,  SOLICITS,  DIRECTS, HIRES OR EMPLOYS ONE OR MORE PERSONS TO
   41  ACT AS A RUNNER ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS FOR A PECUNIARY BENEFIT THAT IN
   42  THE AGGREGATE EXCEEDS FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR USES, SOLICITS,  DIRECTS,
   43  HIRES  OR  EMPLOYS ONE OR MORE PERSONS TO ACT AS A RUNNER ON TEN OR MORE
   44  OCCASIONS.
   45    UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS  IN  THE  FIRST
   46  DEGREE IS A CLASS D FELONY.
   47    S  3.  Paragraph  (a)  of subdivision 1 of section 460.10 of the penal
   48  law, as amended by chapter 405 of the laws of 2010, is amended  to  read
   49  as follows:
   50    (a)  Any  of  the felonies set forth in this chapter: sections 120.05,
   51  120.10 and 120.11 relating to assault; sections 121.12 and 121.13 relat-
   52  ing to strangulation; sections 125.10 to 125.27  relating  to  homicide;
   53  sections 130.25, 130.30 and 130.35 relating to rape; sections 135.20 and
   54  135.25  relating  to  kidnapping; section 135.35 relating to labor traf-
   55  ficking; section 135.65 relating to coercion;  sections  140.20,  140.25
   56  and  140.30  relating  to  burglary;  sections 145.05, 145.10 and 145.12
       A. 4597                             3
    1  relating to criminal mischief; article one  hundred  fifty  relating  to
    2  arson;  sections  155.30,  155.35,  155.40  and 155.42 relating to grand
    3  larceny; sections 177.10, 177.15, 177.20 and 177.25 relating  to  health
    4  care  fraud;  article  one  hundred  sixty relating to robbery; sections
    5  165.45, 165.50, 165.52 and 165.54 relating  to  criminal  possession  of
    6  stolen  property; sections 165.72 and 165.73 relating to trademark coun-
    7  terfeiting; sections 170.10, 170.15, 170.25, 170.30, 170.40, 170.65  and
    8  170.70  relating to forgery; sections 175.10, 175.25, 175.35, 175.40 and
    9  210.40 relating to false statements; sections 176.15, 176.20, 176.25 and
   10  176.30 relating to insurance fraud; SECTIONS 176.80 AND 176.85  RELATING
   11  TO  UNLAWFUL  PROCUREMENT  OF  CLIENTS,  PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS; sections
   12  178.20 and 178.25 relating to criminal diversion of prescription medica-
   13  tions  and  prescriptions;  sections  180.03,  180.08,  180.15,  180.25,
   14  180.40,  180.45, 200.00, 200.03, 200.04, 200.10, 200.11, 200.12, 200.20,
   15  200.22, 200.25, 200.27, 215.00, 215.05 and 215.19 relating  to  bribery;
   16  sections 187.10, 187.15, 187.20 and 187.25 relating to residential mort-
   17  gage  fraud,  sections  190.40  and  190.42  relating to criminal usury;
   18  section 190.65 relating to  schemes  to  defraud;  sections  205.60  and
   19  205.65  relating  to hindering prosecution; sections 210.10, 210.15, and
   20  215.51 relating to perjury and  contempt;  section  215.40  relating  to
   21  tampering  with  physical  evidence;  sections  220.06,  220.09, 220.16,
   22  220.18, 220.21, 220.31, 220.34, 220.39, 220.41, 220.43, 220.46,  220.55,
   23  220.60 and 220.77 relating to controlled substances; sections 225.10 and
   24  225.20  relating to gambling; sections 230.25, 230.30, and 230.32 relat-
   25  ing to promoting prostitution; section 230.34 relating to sex  traffick-
   26  ing;  sections  235.06, 235.07, 235.21 and 235.22 relating to obscenity;
   27  sections 263.10 and 263.15 relating to promoting a sexual performance by
   28  a child; sections 265.02, 265.03, 265.04, 265.11, 265.12, 265.13 and the
   29  provisions of section 265.10  which  constitute  a  felony  relating  to
   30  firearms  and  other  dangerous  weapons; and sections 265.14 and 265.16
   31  relating to criminal sale of a  firearm;  and  section  275.10,  275.20,
   32  275.30,  or  275.40  relating  to  unauthorized recordings; and sections
   33  470.05, 470.10, 470.15 and 470.20 relating to money laundering; or
   34    S 4. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 8 of section 700.05 of the  criminal
   35  procedure law, as amended by chapter 405 of the laws of 2010, is amended
   36  to read as follows:
   37    (b)  Any  of  the  following felonies: assault in the second degree as
   38  defined in section 120.05 of the penal law, assault in the first  degree
   39  as  defined in section 120.10 of the penal law, reckless endangerment in
   40  the first degree as defined in section 120.25 of the penal law,  promot-
   41  ing  a  suicide  attempt  as defined in section 120.30 of the penal law,
   42  strangulation in the second degree as defined in section 121.12  of  the
   43  penal  law,  strangulation  in  the  first  degree as defined in section
   44  121.13 of the penal law, criminally negligent  homicide  as  defined  in
   45  section  125.10  of  the penal law, manslaughter in the second degree as
   46  defined in section 125.15 of the penal law, manslaughter  in  the  first
   47  degree  as  defined  in  section  125.20 of the penal law, murder in the
   48  second degree as defined in section 125.25 of the penal law,  murder  in
   49  the first degree as defined in section 125.27 of the penal law, abortion
   50  in  the  second  degree  as  defined in section 125.40 of the penal law,
   51  abortion in the first degree as defined in section 125.45 of  the  penal
   52  law,  rape in the third degree as defined in section 130.25 of the penal
   53  law, rape in the second degree as defined in section 130.30 of the penal
   54  law, rape in the first degree as defined in section 130.35 of the  penal
   55  law,  criminal  sexual  act  in  the  third degree as defined in section
   56  130.40 of the penal law, criminal sexual act in  the  second  degree  as
       A. 4597                             4
    1  defined  in  section 130.45 of the penal law, criminal sexual act in the
    2  first degree as defined in section 130.50 of the penal law, sexual abuse
    3  in the first degree as defined in  section  130.65  of  the  penal  law,
    4  unlawful  imprisonment  in the first degree as defined in section 135.10
    5  of the penal law, kidnapping in the second degree as defined in  section
    6  135.20  of  the  penal law, kidnapping in the first degree as defined in
    7  section 135.25 of the penal law, labor trafficking as defined in section
    8  135.35 of the penal law, custodial interference in the first  degree  as
    9  defined in section 135.50 of the penal law, coercion in the first degree
   10  as  defined in section 135.65 of the penal law, criminal trespass in the
   11  first degree as defined in section 140.17 of the penal law, burglary  in
   12  the third degree as defined in section 140.20 of the penal law, burglary
   13  in  the  second  degree  as  defined in section 140.25 of the penal law,
   14  burglary in the first degree as defined in section 140.30 of  the  penal
   15  law,  criminal mischief in the third degree as defined in section 145.05
   16  of the penal law, criminal mischief in the second degree as  defined  in
   17  section  145.10  of the penal law, criminal mischief in the first degree
   18  as defined in section 145.12 of the penal law, criminal tampering in the
   19  first degree as defined in section 145.20 of the penal law, arson in the
   20  fourth degree as defined in section 150.05 of the penal  law,  arson  in
   21  the third degree as defined in section 150.10 of the penal law, arson in
   22  the  second  degree as defined in section 150.15 of the penal law, arson
   23  in the first degree as defined in section 150.20 of the penal law, grand
   24  larceny in the fourth degree as defined in section 155.30 of  the  penal
   25  law,  grand  larceny in the third degree as defined in section 155.35 of
   26  the penal law, grand larceny in the second degree as defined in  section
   27  155.40 of the penal law, grand larceny in the first degree as defined in
   28  section  155.42 of the penal law, health care fraud in the fourth degree
   29  as defined in section 177.10 of the penal law, health care fraud in  the
   30  third  degree as defined in section 177.15 of the penal law, health care
   31  fraud in the second degree as defined in section  177.20  of  the  penal
   32  law,  health care fraud in the first degree as defined in section 177.25
   33  of the penal law, robbery in the third  degree  as  defined  in  section
   34  160.05  of  the  penal  law,  robbery in the second degree as defined in
   35  section 160.10 of the penal law, robbery in the first degree as  defined
   36  in  section  160.15  of the penal law, unlawful use of secret scientific
   37  material as defined  in  section  165.07  of  the  penal  law,  criminal
   38  possession of stolen property in the fourth degree as defined in section
   39  165.45  of  the penal law, criminal possession of stolen property in the
   40  third degree as defined in section 165.50 of  the  penal  law,  criminal
   41  possession of stolen property in the second degree as defined by section
   42  165.52  of  the penal law, criminal possession of stolen property in the
   43  first degree as defined by section 165.54 of the  penal  law,  trademark
   44  counterfeiting  in the second degree as defined in section 165.72 of the
   45  penal law, trademark counterfeiting in the first degree  as  defined  in
   46  section 165.73 of the penal law, forgery in the second degree as defined
   47  in  section  170.10  of  the  penal  law, forgery in the first degree as
   48  defined in section 170.15 of the penal law,  criminal  possession  of  a
   49  forged  instrument  in the second degree as defined in section 170.25 of
   50  the penal law, criminal possession of a forged instrument in  the  first
   51  degree  as  defined  in  section  170.30  of  the  penal  law,  criminal
   52  possession of forgery devices as defined in section 170.40 of the  penal
   53  law,  falsifying  business  records  in  the  first degree as defined in
   54  section 175.10 of the penal law, tampering with public  records  in  the
   55  first  degree  as defined in section 175.25 of the penal law, offering a
   56  false instrument for filing in the first degree as  defined  in  section
       A. 4597                             5
    1  175.35  of  the  penal  law,  issuing  a false certificate as defined in
    2  section 175.40 of  the  penal  law,  UNLAWFUL  PROCUREMENT  OF  CLIENTS,
    3  PATIENTS  OR CUSTOMERS IN THE SECOND DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 176.80
    4  OF THE PENAL LAW, UNLAWFUL PROCUREMENT OF CLIENTS, PATIENTS OR CUSTOMERS
    5  IN THE FIRST DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 176.85 OF THE PENAL LAW, crim-
    6  inal  diversion  of  prescription  medications  and prescriptions in the
    7  second degree as defined in section 178.20 of the  penal  law,  criminal
    8  diversion  of  prescription  medications  and prescriptions in the first
    9  degree as defined in section 178.25 of the penal law, residential  mort-
   10  gage  fraud  in  the  fourth  degree as defined in section 187.10 of the
   11  penal law, residential mortgage fraud in the third degree as defined  in
   12  section  187.15  of  the  penal  law,  residential mortgage fraud in the
   13  second degree as defined in section 187.20 of the penal law, residential
   14  mortgage fraud in the first degree as defined in section 187.25  of  the
   15  penal  law,  escape in the second degree as defined in section 205.10 of
   16  the penal law, escape in the first degree as defined in  section  205.15
   17  of  the penal law, absconding from temporary release in the first degree
   18  as defined in section 205.17 of the penal law, promoting prison  contra-
   19  band  in the first degree as defined in section 205.25 of the penal law,
   20  hindering prosecution in the second degree as defined in section  205.60
   21  of  the  penal law, hindering prosecution in the first degree as defined
   22  in section 205.65 of the  penal  law,  sex  trafficking  as  defined  in
   23  section  230.34 of the penal law, criminal possession of a weapon in the
   24  third degree as defined in subdivisions two, three and five  of  section
   25  265.02  of  the penal law, criminal possession of a weapon in the second
   26  degree  as  defined  in  section  265.03  of  the  penal  law,  criminal
   27  possession  of a weapon in the first degree as defined in section 265.04
   28  of the penal law, manufacture, transport, disposition and defacement  of
   29  weapons  and dangerous instruments and appliances defined as felonies in
   30  subdivisions one, two, and three of section 265.10  of  the  penal  law,
   31  sections  265.11,  265.12 and 265.13 of the penal law, or prohibited use
   32  of weapons as defined in subdivision two of section 265.35 of the  penal
   33  law,  relating  to  firearms  and other dangerous weapons, or failure to
   34  disclose the origin of a recording in the first  degree  as  defined  in
   35  section 275.40 of the penal law;
   36    S 5. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed-
   37  ing the date upon which it shall have become a law.