New York Assembly Bill A07345

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/25/25
• Refer: 3/25/25
• Report Pass: 6/5/25
• Refer: 6/5/25
• Report Pass: 6/6/25
• Engrossed: 6/6/25
• Refer: 6/6/25
• Engrossed: 3/5/26
• Refer: 3/5/26

Caption

Grants peace officer status to certain security officers employed by Highland Hospital; provides such peace officers are not authorized to carry, possess, repair or dispose of a firearm.

Summary

A07345 would amend New York’s Criminal Procedure Law to grant peace officer status to officers and members of the security force employed by Highland Hospital. The designation would apply on Highland Hospital grounds and facilities, and also beyond that area when requested by a local chief law enforcement officer or designee for the limited purpose of transporting an arrested person when police are not available in a timely manner. The bill limits the authority granted to these security officers. They would receive only specified peace officer powers under the Criminal Procedure Law, including the ability to detain a person for a reasonable period while awaiting police if they have actual knowledge or probable cause to believe an offense was committed. The measure also makes clear that it does not authorize these officers to carry, possess, repair, or dispose of a firearm unless separately licensed under the Penal Law. The act would take effect immediately.

Impact

This bill would create a new subdivision in section 2.10 of the Criminal Procedure Law, adding Highland Hospital security personnel to the list of designated peace officers. In practical terms, it expands the legal authority of a specific hospital security force, while keeping that authority narrow and tied to hospital property and limited off-site transport circumstances. It does not broadly alter police powers statewide, but it does affect how arrests, detentions, and prisoner transport may be handled at and around Highland Hospital.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong support for the bill. It passed the Assembly Codes Committee unanimously, advanced unanimously through the Assembly Rules Committee, and then passed the Assembly floor with a large majority. No committee transcripts are available, but the recorded votes suggest the measure was viewed as a targeted public safety and operational bill rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

There is little evidence of major opposition in the available record, given the unanimous committee votes and broad floor support. The main policy issue embedded in the bill is the scope of authority being granted to private hospital security personnel: supporters appear to favor giving them limited peace officer powers to improve safety and facilitate prisoner transport, while the bill itself reflects caution by restricting those powers and explicitly barring firearm authority absent separate licensing. Any concern would likely center on the expansion of law-enforcement-like powers to non-police personnel, but that concern is not reflected in the vote totals.