New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 260.21 — Unlawfully dealing with a child in the second degree
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 260: Offenses Relating to Children, Disabled Persons and Vulnerable Elderly Persons, New York Penal Law.
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 260.21
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
260.21 Unlawfully dealing with a child in the second degree.
A person is guilty of unlawfully dealing with a child in the second
degree when:
1. Being an owner, lessee, manager or employee of a place where
alcoholic beverages are sold or given away, he permits a child less than
sixteen years old to enter or remain in such place unless:
(a) The child is accompanied by his parent, guardian or an adult
authorized by a parent or guardian; or
(b) The entertainment or activity is being conducted for the benefit
or under the auspices of a non-profit school, church or other
educational or religious institution; or
(c) Otherwise permitted by law to do so; or
(d) The establishment is closed to the public for a specified period
of time to conduct an activity or entertainment, during which the child
is in or remains in such establishment, and no alcoholic beverages are
sold, served, given away or consumed at such establishment during such
period. The state liquor authority shall be notified in writing by the
licensee of such establishment, of the intended closing of such
establishment, to conduct any such activity or entertainment, not less
than ten days prior to any such closing; or
2. He marks the body of a child less than eighteen years old with
indelible ink or pigments by means of tattooing; or
3. He or she sells or causes to be sold tobacco in any form to a child
less than twenty-one years old.
It is no defense to a prosecution pursuant to subdivision three of
this section that the child acted as the agent or representative of
another person or that the defendant dealt with the child as such.
Unlawfully dealing with a child in the second degree is a class B
misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.