Enacts Noah's Law; creates the crimes of child abuse, vulnerable elderly person or incompetent or physically disabled person abuse, and torture

Noah's Law (Bill A 4527) creates new criminal offenses for abuse of specific vulnerable groups and defines torture. It establishes two degrees of child abuse (second degree: reckless or cruel acts causing harm or risk; first degree: intentional serious harm) and similar abuse crimes for vulnerable elderly, incompetent, or physically disabled people, all classified as felonies (B or A). The law also defines torture as intentionally inflicting severe physical injury or mental suffering while in custody, without requiring proof of actual pain. These provisions directly affect individuals who commit such acts, increasing penalties for abuse that previously may have been prosecuted under less specific statutes.