Authorizes the local enactment of residency requirements for certain employees of police departments; salary increases and civil service credit

3 Co-sponsors

• Ruben Diaz
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Bill Perkins

BILL NUMBER:S3025A

Title of bill

An act to amend the public officers law, the general municipal law and the civil service law, in relation to residency requirements, salary, and civil service exam credits for police officers in certain cities; to amend the tax law and the real property tax law, in relation to establishing certain tax credits for resident police officers; and to amend the education law, in relation to the police officer loan forgiveness program

Purpose or general idea of bill

This legislation provides certain municipalities with various local law options intended to require or encourage residency by police officers within these municipalities.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 authorizes a city with a population of one million or more to enact a local law requiring anyone appointed a police officer of such city to be a resident of that city during the term of the officers employment. Persons who entered police service up to thirty days after the enactment of the local law would not be subject to this residency requirement.

Section 2 authorizes cities with a population of one hundred thousand or more to enact a local law to increase by an amount of five percent or more the salary of a police officer who is a resident of that city.

Section 3 authorizes cities with a population of one hundred thousand or more to adopt a local law which would grant residents of a city additional credit in competitive examinations for original appointment as a police officer, and provides a procedure for implementation of awarding this credit.

Sections 4 through 6 amend sections 1310, 1330-a and 606 of the tax law authorizing cities to adopt and amend local laws providing for resident police officer tax credits'. New York City would be authorized to provide a $500 city income tax credit, Yonkers would be authorized to provide a city income tax credit of $100 and police officers who reside in cities which have adopted applicable local laws authorizing tax credits would receive a $500 state income tax credit.

Section 7 authorizes cities with a population of one hundred thousand or more to adopt a local law authorizing a real property tax credit equal to a reduction of $10,000 of assessed value, times the equalization rate, for resident police officers.

Section 8 amends the education law by establishing a police officer loan forgiveness program for police officers who reside within a city with a population of one hundred thousand or more, provided that the city has adopted a local law authorizing a police officer residency education loan forgiveness initiative. Awards under this program provide up to $2,000 per year, for up to six years.

Justification

The various provisions of this legislation will increase the number of police officers who are residents of the cities where they live, and this will serve to improve police community relations within participating cities.

Legislative history

2009-10: S.3112 - Died in Investigations & Government Operations; A.8800 2003-04: S.646 - Referred to Investigations & Government Operations 2001-02: S.4082 - Referred to Investigations & Government Operations 1999-00: S.6785 - Referred to Investigations & Government Operations

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

Costs yet to be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately, provided however that section seven of this act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.