Grants fire marshals in the town of Shelter Island in Suffolk county peace officer status.
Summary
This bill amends the New York Criminal Procedure Law to add persons employed by the Town of Shelter Island in Suffolk County as fire marshals to the list of peace officers. As drafted, the measure gives those fire marshals peace officer status under state law, which can expand their authority in the performance of official duties.
The bill also makes clear that the new status does not by itself authorize a fire marshal to carry, possess, repair, or dispose of a firearm unless the person has the appropriate license under Penal Law section 400.00. The act would take effect immediately upon enactment.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would modify section 2.10 of the Criminal Procedure Law by adding Shelter Island fire marshals to the statutory list of peace officers. This would affect the legal powers and responsibilities of those municipal employees, while leaving firearm licensing requirements unchanged and subject to existing Penal Law provisions. The measure is narrowly targeted to one town in Suffolk County and would not broadly alter peace officer status for fire marshals statewide.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the proposal appears administrative and limited in scope, suggesting a likely practical rather than controversial purpose. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments means sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the bill’s straightforward local-law character.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the grant of peace officer status itself, since that designation can expand law-enforcement authority and raise questions about training, oversight, and scope of duties. A second issue is the explicit firearm limitation, which indicates an effort to avoid automatic weapons authority and may reflect sensitivity to public safety concerns. Because the bill is specific to Shelter Island, any debate would likely center on whether this local exception is warranted and how it compares with the status of other fire marshals or municipal personnel.
Designates all chief fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals, fire marshal IIs and fire marshal Is employed by the county of Suffolk or a town or village therein as peace officers.