What's happening
This bill amends the law to state that police officers using hearing assistance devices are not considered disabled if they can fully perform police duties.
Why it matters
Protects the employment rights of police officers who use hearing aids. by ensuring they are not automatically classified as "disabled" if they can fully perform their duties, which could prevent unnecessary job restrictions or discrimination.
Encourages inclusivity and modernizes standards for police fitness. by recognizing that assistive technology, like hearing devices, can enable officers to meet all job requirements, reflecting advances in medical technology.
May impact disability benefit eligibility and departmental assignments. because officers using hearing aids but otherwise capable would not be eligible for certain disability-related accommodations or benefits, potentially altering how departments manage workforce health and duty assignments.
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Who cares
NYPD officers who use hearing assistance devices
The bill would exclude officers who can fully perform police duties with such devices from the definition of disabled used to authorize relief from active patrol duty.
NYPD commissioner
The bill would limit the commissioner's authority under this section to remove qualifying officers from active patrol duty or assign them light duties based on disability.
NYPD police surgeons
The bill would narrow the disability definition governing their certifications of officers' fitness for full police duty.
Headline styles
Redefine Police Disability Status
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by S1588
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.120
- Rules report cal.120
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Referred to governmental employees
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.
Police Hearing Aids Not Disabled
Signed by Governor · Sponsor James Sanders Jr.
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4000
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Employees
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to excluding members of the police force who use hearing assistance devices from the definition of disabled
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 14-122 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:
§ 14-122 Relief from active duty due to disability. The commissioner shall have power to relieve from active duty on patrol any member of the police force, who, while in the actual performance of duty and without fault or misconduct on his or her part, shall have become disabled, physically, as a result of injuries or illness attributable thereto, so as to be unfit to perform full police duty, such disability having been certified to by so many of the police surgeons as the commissioner may require. Such member may be assigned to the performance of such light duties as he or she may be qualified to perform. The term "disabled" as used in this section shall not include those members of the police force who can fully perform police duties with the use of a hearing assistance device.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06147-01-9
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.