Relates to training expenses for police and peace officers

BILL NUMBER:S1412A

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to training expenses for police and peace officers

Purpose

This bill would amend section 72-c of the General Municipal Law to expand the opportunity for smaller municipalities to recover expenses associated with training police officers or peace officers when such an individual has been hired by some other law enforcement agency and was trained within the last three years.

Summary of provisions

Section one provides that a municipality with a population of 10,000 or less may seek a pro-rated share of the costs for police officer training expenses, from any law enforcement agency within the State, when a recently trained police officer is hired by such agency.

Existing law

Current law allows a reimbursement request to be made to a successive employer, but the scope of potential reimbursement is restricted to either a municipal corporation or a sheriff that may have hired someone recently trained by a municipality with a population of less than 10,000.

Justification

The cost of the training of a police officer is a financial investment that a municipality makes in expectation of some years of service from the officer. When a recently trained police officer leaves for a position with a new law enforcement agency, it represents a financial loss to the municipality who trained that officer. It is especially costly to small municipalities since the costs represent a larger percentage of their overall budget. This bill would allow municipalities with a population of under 10,000 to seek reimbursement for training expenses from any law enforcement agency within New York State that might hire a police officer trained within the last three years. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2007-08: S.524 - Referred to Local Government 2006: S.478A - Referred to Local Government 2005: S.478A - Advanced to Third Reading Calendar 2004: S.6681 - Advanced to Third Reading Calendar

Fiscal implications

Nominal for the State. This bill represents an expansion of the opportunity for local governments to secure a reimbursement from any law enforcement agency that might choose to hire a recently trained municipal police officer or peace officer. Should a New York State law enforcement agency choose to exercise its discretion to hire a recently trained municipal police officer or peace officer, such an agency would be responsible to reimburse a pro-rated share of the cost of training expenses incurred by the former municipal employer.

Local fiscal implications

Cost savings assumed by local governments.

Effective date

Immediately.