Expands the geographical area of employment of university police officers; repealer

2 Co-sponsors

• John J. Bonacic
• Patrick M. Gallivan

BILL NUMBER:S4316A

Title of bill

An act to amend the criminal procedure law and the education law, in relation to expanding the geographical area of employment of university police officers; and to repeal paragraph (d) of subdivision 34-a of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law relating thereto

Purpose

To extend the jurisdiction, as it pertains to infractions and violations, of New York State University Police Officers from State University of New York property to all geographic areas within New York State.

Summary of provisions

Section 1. Amends paragraph (a) of Subdivision 34-a of Section 1.20 of the Criminal Procedure Law to provide that the geographical area of employment not only includes the campus but all geographic areas of New York State. Section 2. Amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 34-a of section 1.20 of the Criminal Procedure Law Section 3. Paragraph (d) of subdivision 34--a of section 1.20 of the CPL is repealed. Section 4. Amends paragraph 1 of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education law. Section 5. Effective date.

Justification

University Police is the only Agency Law Enforcement Services Unit, which includes the University Police, New York State Environmental Conservation Police, the New York State Forest Rangers and the New York State Park Police, that does not have the power to enforce infractions and violations outside of their geographic area of employment. This anomaly creates a situation that significantly undermines the officers' credibility, legitimacy and ability to perform their duties properly within the existing geographic area of employment. In addition, the New York State University police are requesting this legislation to simply increase their geographic area of employment to all areas of New York State, as a measure to legitimize and augment their ability to lend supplemental support to neighboring law enforcement agencies and provide support statewide in the event of natural disasters such as Hurricane Irene or other emergency deployments.

This legislation would also enable New York State University Police to provide immediate police action and protect' life and property in rare occasions where assistance is requested by citizens of surrounding areas.

Finally, many New York universities and colleges are growing. The need for additional space to accommodate this growth has resulted in the acquisition of satellite properties not geographically connected to

campus centers. Under current law, while traveling between these proper ties, NYS University Police Officers are statutorily limited and must ignore all violations and infractions occurring in their presence.

Legislative history

2007-08: S.7977/A.11205 2009-10: A.4940B

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.