What's happening
This bill prohibits employment contracts in New York law enforcement agencies from allowing officers to delay cooperating with internal investigations after an incident.
Why it matters
Increases accountability and transparency. By preventing law enforcement contracts from allowing officers to delay cooperation after an incident, the bill aims to ensure that internal investigations can proceed without artificial delays, potentially leading to quicker and more transparent outcomes.
Limits protections that can shield misconduct. The bill targets a common provision in police union contracts that can give officers a "cooling-off" period before being questioned, which critics say can undermine investigations into misconduct or use of force.
Applies to all future contracts. The law’s requirements would affect every new, renewed, or modified employment contract after its effective date, meaning agencies and unions must update negotiation practices and current agreements to comply.
Declares such delays against public policy. By explicitly stating that these delay provisions are void, the bill strengthens the legal basis for challenging or removing such clauses, reinforcing the public’s interest in prompt investigation of law enforcement actions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Police Silence Periods
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
5 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to labor
- Referred to labor
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
309
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 5, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PERRY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, GLICK, HOOPER, ORTIZ, RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to contracts for employment in law enforcement agencies
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 211-b to read as follows:
§ 211-b. Contracts; law enforcement agencies; certain provisions prohibited. No contract, covenant, agreement or understanding in, or in connection with or collateral to an agreement or contract for employment in any law enforcement agency in this state shall contain any provision or language which permits any employee of such agency who is involved in an incident, which is or may become the subject of a departmental or agency investigation or disciplinary process, to refuse to cooperate with or speak to agency or department officials for a designated period of time following such incident. Any such language or provision which purports to create such a period of time during which an employee is not required to report an incident or during which such employee may not be subject to questioning by agency officials shall be deemed void as against public policy.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all contracts entered into, renewed, modified or amended on or after such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06344-01-7
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.