New York Senate Bill S04542

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25
• Refer: 2/6/25
• Engrossed: 6/9/25
• Refer: 6/9/25
• Engrossed: 6/11/25
• Enrolled: 8/15/25
• Chaptered: 8/15/25
• Passed: 8/15/25

Caption

Authorizes Justin Finkle to take the competitive civil service examination for the position of police officer and be placed on the eligible list for employment as a full-time police officer for the Albany county sheriff's office; requires that Justin Finkle be otherwise subject to the merit and fitness provisions of the civil service law applicable to full-time police officers.

Summary

S04542 is a private relief bill that creates a narrow exception to New York civil service law for one individual, Justin Finkle. It authorizes him, notwithstanding the usual age requirements in section 58 of the Civil Service Law and any other conflicting law, to take the competitive civil service examination for police officer and, if his score qualifies, to be placed on the eligible list for a full-time police officer position with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office. The bill does not grant an appointment outright. Instead, it preserves the normal merit-and-fitness framework by stating that Finkle remains subject to the civil service rules applicable to full-time police officers. The act takes effect immediately, meaning the exemption would apply as soon as it becomes law.

Impact

The bill amends the practical application of New York Civil Service Law section 58 for a single named applicant by overriding age-based eligibility restrictions and any other contrary law. Its effect is limited to Justin Finkle and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, but it sets a legislative precedent for individualized exceptions to civil service qualification rules. It does not change the general law for other applicants or agencies.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong, unanimous support at every stage: 6-0 in the Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee, 61-0 on the Senate floor, and 146-0 in the Assembly. That pattern suggests the bill was viewed favorably and as noncontroversial by both chambers. No committee transcript is available, but the unanimous votes indicate broad agreement with the requested exception.

Contention

There is little evidence of substantive opposition in the record. The only potential point of concern is the bill’s departure from the ordinary age and eligibility rules for police officer candidates, which could raise fairness or precedent questions in general. However, the bill preserves merit-and-fitness requirements and the unanimous votes suggest that any such concerns were not significant enough to generate recorded dissent.