Grants certain park rangers and building security of Erie county peace officer status to issue appearance tickets, simplified traffic informations, simplified parks informations and simplified environmental conservation informations; provides that such shall not be deemed to authorize such officer to carry, possess, repair or dispose of a firearm unless the appropriate license has been issued therefor.
Summary
A07529 would amend New York’s Criminal Procedure Law to grant peace officer status to two groups of Erie County employees: park rangers in the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, and building security personnel in the Erie County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The bill authorizes these employees to issue appearance tickets, simplified traffic informations, simplified parks informations, and simplified environmental conservation informations.
The measure also makes clear that peace officer status under this bill does not itself authorize the carrying, possession, repair, or disposal of a firearm. Any firearm authority would still depend on a separate license under Penal Law section 400.00. The bill is set to take effect immediately if enacted.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would expand the list of peace officers in Criminal Procedure Law section 2.10 by adding a new Erie County-specific category. This would give the covered county employees limited law-enforcement authority for enforcement and citation purposes, while leaving firearm authority unchanged unless separately licensed. The practical effect would be on Erie County park operations, county security functions, and individuals subject to park, traffic, and environmental enforcement in those facilities and areas.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill. It passed the Assembly Codes Committee unanimously, advanced through the Rules Committee unanimously, and received strong support on the Assembly floor with 133 yeas and 14 nays. No committee transcripts were provided, so there is no recorded debate text to indicate detailed arguments, but the vote pattern indicates the measure was generally viewed favorably.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the expansion of peace officer authority to county employees who are not traditional police officers, especially in a local, Erie County-specific context. Questions could arise about whether park rangers and building security personnel should have citation authority and how that authority will be exercised. The bill addresses one likely concern directly by stating that peace officer status does not automatically confer firearm privileges, which may have been intended to limit objections about arming these employees.
Same As
Grants certain park rangers and building security of Erie county peace officer status to issue appearance tickets, simplified traffic informations, simplified parks informations and simplified environmental conservation informations; provides that such shall not be deemed to authorize such officer to carry, possess, repair or dispose of a firearm unless the appropriate license has been issued therefor.
Grants certain park rangers and building security of Erie county peace officer status to issue appearance tickets, simplified traffic informations, simplified parks informations and simplified environmental conservation informations; provides that such shall not be deemed to authorize such officer to carry, possess, repair or dispose of a firearm unless the appropriate license has been issued therefor.
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.
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.
Precludes a local criminal court from issuing a warrant of arrest based on any simplified information when the defendant has not been arraigned and has not come under the control of the court with respect to the charges in the simplified information; provides that this formerly applied only to simplified traffic information.
Precludes a local criminal court from issuing a warrant of arrest based on any simplified information when the defendant has not been arraigned and has not come under the control of the court with respect to the charges in the simplified information; provides that this formerly applied only to simplified traffic information.
Grants security officers serving at the village of Ardsley village court peace officer status; provides that such officers shall complete training if they are not otherwise police officers or peace officers.
Grants security officers serving at the village of Ardsley village court peace officer status; provides that such officers shall complete training if they are not otherwise police officers or peace officers.
Designates ordinance officers of the city of Mount Vernon police department as peace officers; authorizes such officers to carry a firearm while performing duties as a peace officer if appropriate license has been issued therefor.