New York Assembly Bill A07959

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/16/25
• Refer: 4/16/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Allows Christopher Collins to be eligible to take the civil service exam for the position of police officer with the Saugerties police department.

Summary

This bill is a narrow, person-specific measure that would allow Christopher Collins to sit for the competitive civil service examination for the position of police officer with the Saugerties Police Department in Ulster County. It overrides, for this individual, the usual restrictions in section 58 of the Civil Service Law or any other contrary law that would otherwise bar him from taking the exam. If Collins passes the examination, he would be eligible to be placed on the eligible list for appointment as a full-time police officer in Saugerties. The bill also states that he remains subject to the merit and fitness requirements of the civil service system, and it takes effect immediately.

Impact

The bill creates a special statutory exception to New York Civil Service Law for one named individual, effectively waiving standard eligibility rules only for Christopher Collins. It does not broadly amend police hiring law or civil service qualifications statewide, but it does alter the application of section 58 and any related provisions as they apply to this applicant and the Saugerties Police Department. The practical effect is to open a pathway to police employment that would otherwise be unavailable under existing law.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears routine and administrative in nature, aimed at resolving an individual eligibility issue rather than advancing a broader policy change. The absence of recorded votes or discussion prevents a more definitive assessment of legislative sentiment.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the bill’s individualized nature: it grants a special exception to one named person, which can raise fairness and precedent concerns because it bypasses generally applicable civil service eligibility rules. Any opposition would likely focus on whether a private or local exception is appropriate for a police hiring process that is normally governed by uniform merit-based standards. Support would likely come from those seeking to allow a specific candidate to compete on the exam and be considered for appointment.