NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5656
SPONSOR: Levenberg TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to designating
uniformed court officers in the town of Ossining, county of Westchester
as peace officers
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this legislation is to grant peace officer status to
uniformed court officers in the Town of Ossining.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. A new subdivision 85 is added to Section 2.10 of the Criminal
Procedure Law, which would grant peace officer status to employees of
the Town of Ossining who are serving as uniformed court officers in the
Ossining town courts.
Section 2. Establishes the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
This portion of this memorandum is not applicable at this time.
JUSTIFICATION:
The Town and Village of Ossining have consolidated their court oper-
ations in a cost-saving measure for their taxpayers. The newly consol-
idated court is a successful example of municipalities sharing services,
a top priority for the Governor and State Legislators. Since the consol-
idation, however, there can be as many as 120 people in the courtroom at
one time. Due to the inherent tension and potential for conflict in a
courtroom setting, a Village of Ossining Police Officer has been hired
for court sessions at a rate of $65.00 per hour.
This legislation would provide uniformed court officers with peace offi-
cer status so that they have the proper training and equipment to main-
tain order in the courtroom. Since uniformed court officers have a
different job classification, there will be significant cost savings.
Several counties, towns and villages currently have court officers who
have the benefit of peace officer status. The Village of Ossining Police
will conduct training classes and all uniformed court officers will be
required to make annual visits to the rifle range under the supervision
of the Village of Ossining Police. Uniformed court officers will comply
with all laws regarding firearms, registration and other required
permits.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.7152 and S.4731 of 2021/2022
A. 6684 and S. 4473 of 2019/2020
A. 6928-A and S. 5862-A of 2017/2018
A. 9330 and S. 6994 of 2013/2014
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
There are no fiscal implications to the State associated with the
passage of this legislation, however, there will be a cost savings to
the municipality.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5656
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 20, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LEVENBERG -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to designating
uniformed court officers in the town of Ossining, county of Westches-
ter as peace officers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 86 to read as follows:
3 86. Employees of the town of Ossining serving as uniformed court offi-
4 cers in the courts of the town of Ossining; provided, however, that
5 nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to authorize such employees
6 to carry, possess, repair or dispose of a firearm unless the appropriate
7 license therefore has been issued pursuant to section 400.00 of the
8 penal law.
9 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06723-01-3
