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Who cares
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Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Signed chap.244
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.270
- Substituted for A6575
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.219
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to civil service and pensions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to hiring of police officers in the department of environmental conservation
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Peter Abbate
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1584 REVISED 3/12/13
Title of bill
An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to the hiring of police officers in the department of environmental conservation
Purpose
This legislation adds DEC police officers and Forest Ranger to the list of police officers subject to certain basic requirements, including the requirement of good moral character.
Summary of specific provisions
Civil Service law Section 58 is amended to make appropriate changes as they relate to DEC Police Officers and Forest Rangers to conform with already existing law for police officers.
Existing law
CSL 58 sets forth the requirements for provisional or permanent appointment for certain police officers. These requirements include age, height, weight, physical fitness, and educational requirements, as well as the requirement that the person be of good moral character. The current definition of police officer does not contain EnCon Police Officer, or Forest Ranger.
Justification
"Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) are sworn police officers involved in the enforcement of the Environmental Conservation Law in order to protect the State's natural resources and environment. They investigate complaints in order to detect and document both state and federal Environmental Conservation Law felonies, misdemeanors and violations. Environmental Conservation Officers meet with school groups, service groups, regulated community and hunter's and angler's clubs to promote compliance with environmental conservation law, which includes fish and wildlife law. At times, they are expected to work long and irregular hours on outdoor patrols. ECOs are required to carry a firearm. This language is taken directly from the DEC's website and clearly and concisely explains that ECO's are police officers.
New York's rich and diverse forests, wildlands and wildernesses are protected by the Division of Forest Protection's Forest Rangers. As police officers, wildland firefighters and wilderness first responders, rangers are prepared to protect the state's forests and the people who use these great natural resources from all kinds of dangers. Each day and regardless of weather, forest rangers patrol 5.0 million acres of Department-administered public lands and easements by vehicle, boat, ATV, snowmobile, aircraft, bicycle, foot, skis or snowshoes. Each ranger is required to reside within the ranger district in which she/he is assigned but emergencies and special events will require them to work anywhere and at anytime. Quite often, rangers are asked to assist other agencies with complex
emergency or law enforcement incidents that have occurred in or near a forested area. Since New York has 18.6 million acres of forested lands, rangers are busy year-round accomplishing their unique mission. This language is taken directly from the DEC's website and also clearly and concisely shows that forest rangers are also considered police officers.
As stated above ECO's and Forest Rangers do the jobs of and are considered police officers by the Department of Environmental Conservation and as such should be subject to certain basic requirements, including the requirement of good moral character to the same extent that all other police officers are.
Prior legislative history
Similar bills S.4311 of 2006.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.