Directs the municipal police training council to develop, and the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services to implement, certain training requirements for police officers on the operation of police vehicles, including a minimum of 40 hours of training for new police officers and 4 hours of training for police in-service training courses.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9519A
SPONSOR: Fahy TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to training requirements
for police officers on the operation of police vehicles
PURPOSE:
To ensure the safety of police officers and civilians by requiring the
establishment of policies, procedures, and on-going training for police
officers on the safe driving of police vehicles.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 840 of the executive law to direct the munici-
pal police training council to develop policies, rules, and regulations
with respect to the establishment and implementation of a training
program regarding the operation of police vehicles.
Section 2 amends section 841 of the executive law to direct the commis-
sioner of the division of criminal justice services to implement policy,
procedures, and training developed by the municipal police training
council pursuant to section 1 of this act.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Motor vehicle collisions are the second leading cause of death for
on-duty police officers nationwide, according to the National Law
Enforcement Memorial Fund. In New York, the number of severe crashes
involving police cars that resulted in injury, death, or extensive prop-
erty damage more than doubled from 2012 to 2019, according to a Times
Union analysis. Addressing this concerning trend would help make our
police officers and everyday people safer on the road.
New York's training requirements in driving techniques for police offi-
cers lags behind other states. New York requires a minimum of 21 hours
of emergency vehicle operations training for new police officers, and
there is no requirement for on-going training. In contrast, California
requires 40 hours of training for new officers, and veteran officers
must complete four hours of training every two years.
This legislation brings New York's training requirement in line with
other states, which would help turn around the state's poor record of
crashes that result in injury or death of officers and civilians.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9519--A
IN ASSEMBLY
March 20, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY, SHIMSKY, GLICK, SIMON -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to training requirements
for police officers on the operation of police vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 840 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 8 to read as follows:
3 8. The council shall, in addition:
4 (a) Develop, maintain and disseminate, in consultation with the
5 department of motor vehicles, written policies and procedures regarding
6 the operation of police vehicles, as defined by section one hundred
7 thirty-two-a of the vehicle and traffic law, by police officers. Such
8 policies and procedures shall make provisions for the training of new
9 and veteran police officers on the operation of such police vehicles;
10 (b) Recommend to the commissioner rules and regulations with respect
11 to the establishment and implementation on an ongoing basis of a train-
12 ing program for all current and new police officers regarding the poli-
13 cies and procedures established pursuant to this subdivision, along with
14 recommendations for periodic retraining of police officers, which shall
15 include:
16 (i) a minimum of forty hours of training to be included in the basic
17 course for police officers; and
18 (ii) a minimum of four hours of training to be included in police
19 in-service training courses; and
20 (c) Disseminate the policy promulgated in accordance with this subdi-
21 vision, regarding operation of police vehicles by police officers, to
22 all police departments in this state and develop a model training
23 program for all current and new police officers regarding such policies
24 and procedures established pursuant to this subdivision.
25 § 2. Section 841 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
26 subdivision 10 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14881-02-4
A. 9519--A 2
1 10. Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement training
2 policies and procedures for new and veteran police officers on the oper-
3 ation of police vehicles developed pursuant to subdivision eight of
4 section eight hundred forty of this article.
5 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
