What's happening
This bill adds the St. Lawrence County sheriff as an additional firearms licensing officer alongside judges or justices in that county.
Why it matters
Expands local control and access. By allowing the St. Lawrence County sheriff to act as a firearms licensing officer, residents may have more convenient and potentially faster access to licensing services, rather than relying solely on judges or justices.
Alters checks and balances. Including the sheriff, an elected law enforcement official, introduces a new dynamic in the licensing process, possibly impacting how applications are evaluated compared to judicial officers.
Potential for differing standards. With both judges and the sheriff able to issue licenses, there could be differences in interpretation or enforcement of licensing criteria, which may lead to inconsistencies or forum shopping within the county.
Reflects local policy choices. The change underscores a legislative preference for local flexibility in firearms licensing, which could set a precedent for similar changes in other counties.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Sheriff to Gun Permits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to codes
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1437
- Committee discharged and committed 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.
Add Sheriff to Gun Licensing
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Kenneth Blankenbush
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3012
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 19, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to adding St. Lawrence county sheriff as an additional firearms licensing officer
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 10 of section 265.00 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 210 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
10. "Licensing officer" means in the city of New York the police commissioner of that city; in the county of Nassau the commissioner of police of that county; in the county of Suffolk the sheriff of that county except in the towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip and Smithtown, the commissioner of police of that county; for the purposes of section 400.01 of this chapter the superintendent of state police; in the county of St. Lawrence the sheriff of that county as well as judges or justices of a court of record having an office in the county of St. Lawrence; and elsewhere in the state a judge or justice of a court of record having his office in the county of issuance.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08129-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to adding St. Lawrence county sheriff as an additional firearms licensing officer
Purpose
To authorize the St. Lawrence County Sheriff to act as an additional firearms licensing officer
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends § 265.00(10) of the Penal Law, to allow the Sheriff in St. Lawrence County to act as an additional firearms licensing officer.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Existing law
Section 265.00(10) of the Penal Law currently defines "licensing officer" for the purposes of processing firearm licensing applications. This section provides, "licensing officer means in the city of New York the police commissioner of that city; in the county of Nassau the commissioner of police of that county; in the county of Suffolk the sheriff of that county except in the town of Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, and Smithtown, the commissioner of police of that county; for the purposes of section 400.01 of this chapter the superintendant of the state police; and elsewhere in the state a judge or justice of a court of record having his office in the county of issuance.
Justification
Allowing the St. Lawrence County Sheriff to act as an additional firearms licensing officer should provide for an increase in the ability of St. Lawrence County to process licensing applications. This legislation is introduced at the request of the St. Lawrence Country Board of Legislators.
Legislative history
2016: S.7832 Reported and Committed to Finance.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
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.