What's happening
This bill allows former military police officers up to age 55 to join the New York State Police if they apply within eight months of discharge.
Why it matters
Expands the eligible labor pool for state police. By allowing former military police officers up to age 55 to apply, the bill could help address recruitment challenges for the New York State Police and bring in experienced candidates who might otherwise be excluded due to age limits.
Leverages specialized military training and experience. Former military police officers typically have rigorous law enforcement, leadership, and crisis response training. Their inclusion could enhance the skill set and operational readiness of the state police force.
Encourages a smoother transition to civilian law enforcement. The eight-month application window after discharge incentivizes recently separated military police to quickly pursue state police careers, potentially reducing periods of unemployment and supporting veterans’ reintegration.
Raises potential questions about age and physical standards. Allowing applicants up to age 55 may prompt scrutiny regarding physical fitness and the long-term career trajectory of older recruits, as well as the need for clear standards to ensure all officers meet job requirements.
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Who cares
Former military police officers
The bill would make them eligible for State Police appointment through age 55 if they file their application within eight months of discharge from active military duty.
New York State Police recruiters
The bill would expand age eligibility for former military police officers beyond the usual maximum of 29, or 35 at the superintendent’s discretion.
State Police superintendent
The bill would add an age exception for qualifying former military police officers while retaining fitness, good character and physical and mental examination requirements.
Headline styles
Let Military Police Join Troopers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
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.
Allow Older Military Police Hires
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Michael DenDekker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1923
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sens. RITCHIE, LARKIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the eligibility of military police for appointment to the state police
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 215 of the executive law, as amended by chapter 478 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
3. The sworn members of the New York state police shall be appointed by the superintendent and permanent appointees may be removed by the superintendent only after a hearing. No person shall be appointed to the New York state police force as a sworn member unless he or she shall be a citizen of the United States, between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-nine years except that in the superintendent's discretion, the maximum age may be extended to thirty-five years. Any applicant that is a former military police officer shall be eligible for appointment so long as his or her age does not exceed fifty-five years on the date of appointment and provided that his or her application is filed within eight months of their discharge from active military duty. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any general or special law to the contrary the time spent on military duty, not exceeding a total of six years, shall be subtracted from the age of any applicant who has passed his or her twenty-ninth birthday, solely for the purpose of permitting qualification as to age and for no other purpose. Such limitations as to age however shall not apply to persons appointed to the positions of counsel, first assistant counsel, assistant counsel, and assistant deputy superintendent for employee relations nor to any person appointed to the bureau of criminal investigation pursuant to section two hundred sixteen of this article nor shall any person be appointed unless he or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07611-01-7
S. 1923 2
she has fitness and good moral character and shall have passed a physical and mental examination based upon standards provided by the rules and regulations of the superintendent. Appointments shall be made for a probationary period which, in the case of appointees required to attend and complete a basic training program at the state police academy, shall include such time spent attending the basic school and terminate one year after successful completion thereof. All other sworn members shall be subject to a probationary period of one year from the date of appointment. Following satisfactory completion of the probationary period the member shall be a permanent appointee. Voluntary resignation or withdrawal from the New York state police during such appointment shall be submitted to the superintendent for approval. Reasonable time shall be required to account for all equipment issued or for debts or obligations to the state to be satisfied. Resignation or withdrawal from the division during a time of emergency, so declared by the governor, shall not be approved if contrary to the best interest of the state and shall be a misdemeanor. No sworn member removed from the New York state police shall be eligible for reappointment. The superintendent shall make rules and regulations subject to approval by the governor for the discipline and control of the New York state police and for the examination and qualifications of applicants for appointment as members thereto and such examinations shall be held and conducted by the superintendent subject to such rules and regulations. The superintendent is authorized to charge a fee of twenty dollars as an application fee for any person applying to take a competitive examination for the position of trooper, and a fee of five dollars for any competitive examination for a civilian position. The superintendent shall promulgate regulations subject to the approval of the director of the budget, to provide for a waiver of the application fee when the fee would cause an unreasonable hardship on the applicant and to establish a fee schedule and charge fees for the use of state police facilities.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the eligibility of military police for appointment to the state police
Purpose
To extend the eligibility of military police for appointment to the New York State Police.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends § 215(3) of the executive law to provide that any applicant to the New York State Police that is a former military police officer shall be eligible for appointment so long as his or her age does not exceed fifty-five years on the date of appointment and provided that his or her application is filed within eight months of their discharge from active military duty.
Read the full memo (739 words)
Section 2 provides the effective date.
Existing law
Pursuant to § 210 of the Executive Law, the division of the state police in the executive department is known as the "New York State Police." The head of the New York State Police shall be the superintendant of state police, appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Pursuant to § 215(1) of the Executive Law, the New York State Police shall, in addition to the superintendent, consist of a variety of sworn members, including headquarters staff, majors, lieutenants, first sergeants, sergeants, technical sergeants, corporals, and troopers. Appointment or assignment to such positions shall be made by the superintendant under his or her discretion as may be required to carry out the purposes of the New York State Police. The superintendant maybe also appoint other additional personnel as may be required for all necessary police purposes, including policing and protecting the lands and parkways of the state.
Pursuant to § 215(3) of the Executive Law, no person shall be appointed to the New York State Police force as a sworn member unless he or she is a citizen of the United States and is between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-nine years of age. At the superintendant's discretion the maximum age may be extended to thirty-five years. Time spent on military duty, not exceeding a total of six years, shall be subtracted from the age of any applicant who has passed his or her twenty-ninth birthday, solely for the purpose of permitting qualification as to age.
Pursuant to § 215(3-a) of the Executive Law, the superintendent shall promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of supplemental competitive examinations, to be given at not less than six month intervals for two years following the application deadline date of the regular competitive examination for the position of trooper, for individuals who, on the application deadline date or on the date of the regular competitive examination, are in the active military service and are otherwise qualified to sit for such exam.
Justification
A 1993 Pennsylvania State University study entitled, Alternatives to Chronological Age in Determining Standards of Suitability for Public Safety Jobs, found no correlation between age and physical ability. Instead, researchers discovered that lifestyle variables, such as
exercise and diet, are much more relevant for determining a law enforcement officer's ability to perform his or her work proficiently.
This is especially true of active duty military police officers, who are among the most highly trained and physically competent officers in the armed services. Military Police are the most demanded enabler for major combat operations, stability operations, expeditionary operations, civil assistance, and homeland consequence management. As such, age alone should not proscribe a military police officer's eligibility for application and appointment to the State Police. To remedy this disproportionality, this bill provides that any applicant to the New York State Police that is a former military police officer shall be eligible for appointment so long as his or her age does not exceed fifty-five years on the date of appointment and provided that his or her application is filed within eight months of their discharge from active military duty.
Ensuring that the best, brightest, and most thoroughly trained individuals comprise the New York State Police is an important objective of the legislature. Extending eligibility for state police appointment to highly qualified and prepared military police officers, who have only recently ended their active duty commissions, would help ensure that goal. For all of these reasons, it is imperative that this bill is enacted.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.5551 Reported and Committed to Finance/A.8014 Referred to Gov. Operations.
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.