What's happening
This bill expands the definition of peace officers to include bay constables appointed by any county, city, town, or village.
Why it matters
Broadens the authority and powers of bay constables statewide. By expanding the definition from a specific list of towns and villages to any county, city, town, or village, the bill enables many more municipalities to appoint bay constables as peace officers, granting them law enforcement powers.
Potential for increased maritime law enforcement. With more bay constables qualifying as peace officers, local governments may have greater capacity to address issues such as boating safety, environmental protection, and waterfront security.
Impacts on training, oversight, and firearms regulations. The bill removes language that previously limited certain bay constables’ ability to carry firearms unless licensed, potentially creating a need for updated training and oversight policies to ensure consistent standards across jurisdictions.
Could affect local budgets and coordination. As more municipalities may establish or expand bay constable roles, there may be financial implications for training, equipment, and coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
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Who cares
Bay constables
The bill would extend peace officer status to bay constables appointed by any county, city, town or village, replacing a list of specific municipalities.
County, city, town and village governments
Their appointed bay constables would qualify as peace officers without the municipality needing to be named in this provision.
Bay constables in municipalities subject to firearm restrictions
The bill would remove this subdivision’s requirement that specified bay constables obtain a Penal Law section 400.00 license to carry, possess, repair or dispose of a firearm.
Headline styles
Expand Bay Constable Powers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- 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.
Make Bay Constables Peace Officers
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 3000 A. 2332
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
January 18, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE, RAIA, MONTESANO, McDONOUGH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to bay constables appointed by a county, city, town or village within the definition of peace officers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 18 of section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law, as amended by chapter 224 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
18. Bay [constable of the city of Rye, the villages of Mamaroneck, South Nyack and bay constables of the towns of East Hampton, Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Riverhead, Southampton, Southold, Islip, Shelter Island, Brookhaven, Babylon, Smithtown, Huntington and North Hempstead; provided, however, that nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to authorize the bay constables in the city of Rye, the village of South Nyack or the towns of Brookhaven, Babylon, Southold, East Hampton, Riverhead, Islip, other than a bay constable of the town of Islip who prior to April third, nineteen hundred ninety-eight served as harbormaster for such town and whose position was reclassified as bay constable for such town prior to such date, Smithtown, Huntington and Shelter Island 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] constables appointed by a county, city, town or village.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07170-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to bay constables appointed by a county, city, town or village within the definition of peace officers
Purpose
The purpose of this bill would amend subdivision 18 of section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law as amended by Chapter 224 of the Laws of 1998, to include all bay constables appointed by a county, city town or village within the definition of a peace officer, not just those specifically referred to in the current version of the Criminal Procedure Law.
Justification
A peace office is designated with maintaining law and order for a specified community. A bay constable, being appointed by a particular county, city, town or village is also expected to uphold the same obligations and responsibilities that are resumed by a peace officer.
Legislative history
2015-16 S.2099/A.3024; 2013-14 S4580/A.6422; 2012 A.4558
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.