What's happening
This bill grants Chautauqua Institution public safety officers peace officer status with specific powers and requirements on institution property.
Why it matters
Expands law enforcement authority on Chautauqua Institution property. The bill gives the institution’s public safety officers formal peace officer status, enabling them to enforce laws, maintain order, and respond to incidents on its grounds and adjacent public areas. This may lead to more immediate and specialized response to campus-specific issues.
Limits and defines jurisdiction. Officers’ powers are generally confined to institution property and abutting streets/sidewalks, but can extend beyond if the county sheriff requests it for prisoner transport—meaning their authority is not blanket, but tailored to the institution’s needs and coordinated with local law enforcement.
Requires professional training and licensing. Officers must complete the state’s basic peace officer training (including firearms) and meet other legal standards, ensuring a baseline of professionalism and public safety competence.
Provides legal protection for local governments. The Chautauqua Institution must indemnify municipalities and their employees against claims arising from the actions of its peace officers—except when those officers act as agents of the county sheriff—potentially reducing legal and financial risk for local governments and clarifying lines of liability.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Chautauqua Officers Peace Officers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 7283b
- Amend (t) and recommit to codes
- Print number 7283a
- Amend (t) and recommit 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.
Give Peace Officer Status
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Andrew Goodell
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7283--B
IN SENATE
January 15, 2020
Introduced by Sen. BORRELLO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to peace officer status of public safety officers of the Chautauqua Institution within the grounds of and properties owned by the Chautauqua Institution
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 86 to read as follows:
86. (a) Public safety officers of the Chautauqua Institution who are designated as peace officers by the board of trustees of the Chautauqua Institution pursuant to paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this subdivision; 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.
(b) For the protection of the grounds, buildings and property of the Chautauqua Institution, the prevention of crime and the enforcement of law and order, the board of trustees of the Chautauqua Institution may appoint and remove such number of public safety officers designated as peace officers as is determined by the board of trustees to be necessary for the maintenance of public order consistent with this subdivision. Such Chautauqua Institution peace officers so appointed shall be employees of the Chautauqua Institution and subject to its supervision and control. Such Chautauqua Institution peace officers shall have the powers of peace officers within the geographic area of employment on the grounds or premises owned, controlled or administered by the Chautauqua Institution within the county of Chautauqua, on any public street and sidewalk that abuts the grounds, buildings or property of the Chautauqua Institution, and beyond such geographic area upon the request of the sheriff of Chautauqua County, or his or her designee, for the purpose of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09287-10-0
S. 7283--B 2
transporting an individual who has been arrested in accordance with section 140.27 of this chapter and when no local law enforcement officer is available for transporting such individual in a timely manner.
(c) The Chautauqua Institution shall provide legal defense and indemnification to applicable municipalities and its officers and employees, and hold them harmless, against all claims arising out of conduct by or injury to such peace officers while carrying out their special duties, except in those situations when they are acting as agents of the Chautauqua County sheriff or his or her designee.
(d) To become eligible for designation as a Chautauqua Institution peace officer, a candidate shall, at a minimum, successfully complete the New York state basic course for peace officers with firearms and any other requirements as set forth in section 2.30 of this article.
§ 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 criminal procedure law, in relation to peace officer status of public safety officers of the Chautauqua Institution within the grounds of and properties owned by the Chautauqua Institution
Purpose
To designate, as peace officers, public safety officers of the Chautau- qua Institution within the grounds of and properties owned by the Chau- tauqua Institution.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends Section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law by adding a new subdivision 86 to provide that public safety officers of Chautauqua Institution are designated as peace officers by the board of trustees of the Chautauqua Institution.
Section 2. Provides that this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Chautauqua Institution has nationally recognized programs including world class lectures, performances, classes, religious services, and activities every day of the nine-week summer assembly season. These programs feature in-person participation by some of the world's most notable people including government leaders, lawmakers, politicians, religious leaders, educators, performers, and artists at venues that range in size from several hundred to more than 6,000 patrons at one time.
Chautauqua Institution employs their own police/security department. These individuals are responsible for patrolling the grounds and proper- ty owned by Chautauqua Institution. They have successfully protected this community for decades.
Over the years, a select group of officers employed by Chautauqua Insti- tution who have completed the municipal police training council basic training courses have been deputized by the Sheriff of Chautauqua Coun- ty. After 40 years under the advice from counsel, the county sheriff's office decided to discontinue the special deputy status for Chautauqua Institution police officers.
Without an alternative means of empowering the Chautauqua Institution Police Department with full police authority, it would place at a higher risk the safety of their 100,000 patrons and residents, while also adding significant additional policing responsibility and related costs to the Sheriff's Office and the New York State Police.
This legislation would grant peace officer status to those Chautauqua Institution police officers. This legislation also establishes that Chautauqua Institution will be responsible for any acts undertaken by these peace officers. Further, their jurisdiction will only be within the grounds of and properties owned by the Chautauqua Institution.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.440/A.8580 Passed Senate 2015-16: S.5164/A.5099 Passed Senate 2014: S.3894-B/A.6937-A Passed both Houses, Veto Memo No. 515
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.