Relates to certain residency requirements for certain positions

1 Co-sponsor

• José Peralta

BILL NUMBER:S3489A

Title of bill

An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to certain residency requirements for certain positions

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to allow residents of Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Orange, Rockland, or Putnam counties to satisfy the residency requirements of section 3-b of the Public Officers Law, should they be employed in any of the peace officer titles listed in this bill.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends section 3-b of the Public Officers law by adding a new subdivision 4 allowing persons holding any of the titles listed within the section to satisfy the residency requirement of section 3-b of Article 2 of the Public Officers Law if he or she resides in Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, Rockland or Putnam counties following two years of continuous service residing within New York City.

Justification

In 2009, the City of New York amended its residency requirement, Local Law 10 of 2009, to permit an employee of the City of New York to reside in Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Orange, Rockland, or Putnam counties following two years of employment while residing within New York City. Because these counties have lower costs of living than the counties of the City of New York, these residency provisions provide employees an opportunity to decrease their cost of living. However, employees must reside within the City of New York for two years before they are eligible for this residency exemption. Employers in the City of New York that have the power to enforce this city law strictly adhere to it, and employees found to be in violation are terminated.

Presently, the New York City law does not extend the residency exemption to the titles listed in this bill, peace officers subject to New York State Public Officers Law. This bill would place the peace officers listed in the same position as all other employees that are granted a reprieve from high cost of living expenses after two years of continuous employment.

Chapter 480 of the Laws of 2010 provided New York City fire protection inspectors, urban park rangers and traffic enforcement agents level IV the same residency requirement of Local Law 10 of 2009. This bill simply extends the residency exemption to the peace officer titles listed in the bill.

Legislative history

2009-2010: S.7745 - Referred to Investigations and Government Operations

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.