What's happening
This bill grants limited peace officer status to Ellis Hospital security personnel at specified locations in Schenectady, New York.
Why it matters
Expands authority of hospital security. By granting Ellis Hospital security staff limited peace officer powers, the bill could change how incidents involving patients, visitors, and staff are handled, allowing for quicker intervention in behavioral health crises or disturbances.
Specifies limits and oversight. The security officers will only have certain legal powers (like those related to mental health interventions and certain law enforcement procedures), and must be designated by the hospital’s board, which adds a layer of oversight and restricts broad police authority.
Firearms restrictions remain. Even with peace officer status, hospital security cannot carry firearms unless they obtain a standard handgun license, limiting the potential for increased weaponization on hospital grounds and addressing public safety concerns.
Potential impact on patient experience and hospital liability. With more authority, security may better protect patients and staff, but this also raises questions about use-of-force policies, training standards, and possible liability for the hospital if incidents occur.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Ellis Hospital Guards Peace Officers
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.
Ellis Hospital Security as Peace Officers
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor James Tedisco
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
442
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to granting peace officer status to officers and members of the security force of Ellis Hospital
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new subdivision 85 to read as follows:
85. Officers and members of the security force employed by Ellis Hospital within and directly adjacent to the Ellis Hospital Campus on 1101 Nott Street, Schenectady, New York, and affiliated hospitals and clinics owned or operated by Ellis Hospital, and so designated by the board of trustees of the hospital. Such officers shall have only the powers enumerated in section 9.41 of the mental hygiene law and the powers listed in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (h) of subdivision one of section 2.20 of this article; provided, however, that nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to authorize any such officer 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.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03614-01-9
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.