New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $254 billion budget that includes a deal with lawmakers to add a charge for mask-wearing suspects. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)
"It’s really trying to concentrate on people who wear a mask in regards to hiding their identity while they commit another crime," Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie told reporters, according to Gothamist.
The extra charge also applies to people fleeing from the scene of a crime.
Hochul had wanted to create an extra penalty if someone was covering their face while threatening or harassing a group of people, a proposal that was softened ahead of the agreed bill being added to the state budget this week following concerns from Democrat lawmakers and civil liberty advocates.
The extra charge also applies to people fleeing from the scene of a crime. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
While Hochul announced a deal for the budget on Monday, lawmakers still need to hash out spending decisions on some issues, including the funding formula for public schools and Medicaid, according to Politico.
The governor’s spending plan is set to be the highest in state history and $100 billion more than the state budget a decade ago, the outlet reported. An uptick in prison costs as well as additional health care, child care and education spending ballooned the size of the budget to $2 billion more than what she proposed in January.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gov-hochul-new-york-lawmakers-agree-criminal-charge-wearing-mask-while-committing-crime