Provides that all court clerks of the unified court system shall be designated as peace officers.
Summary
This bill amends the Criminal Procedure Law to expand the category of court clerks who are designated as peace officers. Under current law, only court clerks of the Unified Court System in the First and Second Departments are included; the bill removes that geographic limitation so that all court clerks of the Unified Court System would be designated as peace officers statewide. The change is immediate upon enactment.
As a practical matter, the bill would broaden the statutory authority and status of court clerks across New York’s court system. Because peace officer designation can affect powers related to law enforcement functions, training, and official duties, the bill would alter the legal status of a larger group of court employees and potentially affect court operations statewide.
Impact
The bill would amend section 2.10 of the Criminal Procedure Law, specifically the provision listing categories of peace officers, by replacing the current reference to court clerks in only the First and Second Departments with a statewide designation for all Unified Court System court clerks. This would expand the class of employees covered by the peace officer designation and could affect the duties, authority, and training requirements associated with those positions, as well as how courts manage security and enforcement-related responsibilities.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history available for this bill, so no direct evidence of support or opposition can be identified from the provided materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears administrative and targeted rather than controversial, focusing on a personnel classification change within the court system.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the scope of peace officer authority being extended to all Unified Court System court clerks, which may raise questions about training, oversight, workplace responsibilities, and the appropriateness of expanding law-enforcement-related powers to court personnel. Any disagreement would likely center on whether statewide designation is necessary or whether the existing limited designation should remain in place.
Provides that any person who has served as a state-paid judge or justice of a court of the unified court system or as a housing judge of the housing portion of the civil court of the city of New York, but who no longer holds any of such offices, may apply to be designated as a judicial hearing officer.
Provides that any person who has served as a state-paid judge or justice of a court of the unified court system or as a housing judge of the housing portion of the civil court of the city of New York, but who no longer holds any of such offices, may apply to be designated as a judicial hearing officer.
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.
Requires more specific data reporting by the chief administrator to include information relating to all courts in the unified court system, including town and village courts.
Requires more specific data reporting by the chief administrator to include information relating to all courts in the unified court system, including town and village courts.
Provides that a surrogate court clerk or chief clerk shall refuse to accept for filing papers filed in a proceeding only under certain circumstances or as designated in statute, administrative rule or order of the court; provides such reasons; requires the payment of any applicable statutory fees, or an order of the court waiving payment of such fees, before accepting a paper for filing; makes related provisions.