Exempts correction officers of any penal correctional institution from training requirements for security guards.
Summary
This bill amends the General Business Law to expand an existing exemption from security guard training requirements. Under current law, correction officers of state correctional facilities who have peace officer powers are exempt from certain security guard training rules; this bill extends that exemption to correction officers of any penal correctional institution. The measure is narrow and technical, focused on aligning the statutory exemption with a broader category of correction officers.
In practical terms, the bill would remove the need for covered correction officers at penal correctional institutions to complete the training otherwise required for security guards under Article 7-A of the General Business Law. The bill takes effect immediately and would affect correction officers and the institutions that employ them, rather than the general public. It does not create a new licensing scheme or impose new duties; instead, it modifies who is excluded from an existing regulatory requirement.
Impact
The bill would amend section 89-n of the General Business Law to broaden the list of correction officers exempt from security guard training requirements. As a result, correction officers at any penal correctional institution with peace officer powers under the Criminal Procedure Law would be treated the same as state correction officers for purposes of this exemption. The change would reduce training obligations for affected correction officers and their employers, and it would slightly narrow the reach of the state’s security guard training regime.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears administrative and targeted, suggesting a generally neutral or practical policy posture rather than a controversial one. The bill’s framing indicates an effort to standardize treatment of correction officers across correctional institutions.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is whether correction officers at non-state penal correctional institutions should be exempt from the same training requirements that apply to security guards. Supporters would likely argue that these officers already have peace officer authority and specialized correctional training, making the security guard training redundant. Critics could question whether expanding the exemption weakens training standards or creates inconsistent oversight for personnel working in correctional settings. No specific opposing viewpoints are documented in the provided record.
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