What's happening
This bill designates court attendants employed by the town of Somers as peace officers, with firearm restrictions unless properly licensed.
Why it matters
Expands legal authority. By designating Somers court attendants as peace officers, the bill grants them specific legal powers—such as making arrests or issuing summonses—that go beyond those of ordinary municipal employees.
Potential for increased courtroom security. With peace officer status, court attendants may play a larger role in maintaining order and responding to incidents in the town’s court facilities, which could enhance the safety of judges, staff, and the public.
Maintains strict firearm controls. The bill makes clear that even with peace officer status, court attendants cannot carry, possess, repair, or dispose of firearms unless they obtain the proper state license, preserving strong oversight of armed personnel in a sensitive setting.
May impact local hiring and training. The new designation could lead to changes in recruitment standards, background checks, and training requirements for court attendants, as peace officers are typically subject to more rigorous oversight and professional expectations.
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Who cares
Town of Somers court attendants
The bill would designate town employees serving as court attendants at Somers court facilities as peace officers.
Town of Somers officials
The bill would change the legal status of town employees serving as court attendants at town court facilities.
Somers court attendants seeking to carry firearms
The bill would not authorize them to carry, possess, repair or dispose of a firearm without the appropriate license under Penal Law section 400.00.
Headline styles
Somers Court Attendants Made Peace Officers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by S8176
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.388
- Rules report cal.388
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Referred to codes
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.
Somers Court Attendants Peace Officers
Vetoed · Sponsor Terrence P. Murphy
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
11008
IN ASSEMBLY
May 29, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. BYRNE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to designating court attendants employed by the town of Somers as peace officers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new subdivision 85 to read as follows:
85. Employees of the town of Somers serving as court attendants at town of Somers court facilities; provided, however, that nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to authorize such employees to carry, possess, repair or dispose of a firearm unless the appropriate license therefor has been issued pursuant to section 400.00 of the penal law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15430-01-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.