What's happening
This bill allows local governments in New York to waive citizenship requirements for police and firefighter candidates who are honorably discharged U.S. military veterans with no criminal convictions.
Why it matters
Expands the pool of eligible police and firefighter candidates. by enabling non-citizen veterans who have served honorably in the U.S. military to apply, potentially helping to address staffing shortages in public safety roles.
Recognizes and rewards military service. by allowing local governments to honor the sacrifices of veterans, regardless of citizenship status, providing them with new career opportunities in civil service.
Maintains public safety standards. by ensuring that only veterans with honorable or general discharges and no criminal record are eligible for the waiver, balancing inclusivity with security concerns.
Gives local governments flexibility. to determine whether to adopt this waiver based on their community needs, rather than imposing a statewide mandate.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Non-Citizen First Responders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
816
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to authorizing the waiver of citizenship requirements for certain police and firefighters
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3 of the public officers law is amended by adding a new subdivision 1-b to read as follows:
1-b. Citizenship requirements of police and/or firefighters. Notwithstanding any general, special or local law or administrative code to the contrary, the local governing bodies of the several cities, counties, towns, villages, police and fire districts of the state are hereby authorized to waive any citizenship requirements from the qualifications of police officers and/or firefighters upon the submission by the police officer or firefighter candidate of proof of:
(a) having received an honorable or general discharge from the United States army, navy, air force, marines, coast guard, and/or reserves thereof, and/or the army national guard, air national guard, New York guard and/or New York naval militia; and
(b) having never been convicted of a crime, as defined in subdivision six of section 10.00 of the penal law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06511-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to authorizing the waiver of citizenship requirements for certain police and firefighters
Purpose
Authorizes the local governing board of cities, counties, towns, villages, police, and fire districts of the state to waive citizenship requirements from the qualifications for police and firefighters upon submission of proof of having received an honorable or general discharge from the United States Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard, New York Guard, and/or New York Naval Militia.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of the bill adds subdivision 1-b to § 3 of the public offi- cers law which authorizes the local governing bodies of cities, coun- ties, towns, villages, police, and fire districts to waive any citizen- ship requirements from the qualifications for appointment as a police officer or a firefighter upon the submission by the police officer or firefighter candidate proof of having received an honorable or general discharge from the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and/or Reserves thereof, and/or the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, New York Guard and/or New York Naval Militia and also requires that the candidate have never been convicted of a crime as defined in subdivision six of section 10.00 of the penal law.
Section two of the bill provides the effective date.
Justification
Current law only allows for United States citizens to become members of police and fire departments, including the New York City Police Depart- ment and the Fire Department of New York. This legislation would expand the employment eligibility requirements for these positions to include permanent residents who submit proof of service in the United States military forces and of an honorable or general discharge.
About 40 percent of New York City's population is comprised of immi- grants who are law abiding citizens and who share its tax burden. The New York Police Department and the Fire Department of New York, and other municipal police and fire departments, should be allowed to receive the benefit the employment of permanent residents who have served in the United States Military and received an honorable or gener- al discharge.
This bill will allow for the New York City Police Department and the Fire Department of New York to include employees who are reflective of its community as a whole. Legal permanent residents are permitted by the federal government to serve in the United States military; and the history of the United States is replete with heroic, patriotic, and honorable service by immigrants who served and even died while they were still non-citizens. If these New Yorkers can be called upon to serve in the U.S. military to defend and die for our country, then they should also be allowed to serve in the FDNY and NYPD, and in other police and fire departments of the counties, towns, villages, and cities of the state. Enactment of this legislation will allow local governments to include permanent residents who have served in the United States mili- tary and received an honorable or general discharge to contribute valu- able public service within their communities.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.5787 - Referred to Investigations & Governmental Operations / A.3575- A - Referred to Governmental Operations 2017: S.5787 - Referred to Investigations & Governmental Operations / A.3575-A - Referred to Governmental Operations 2015-2016: A.4953 - Referred to Governmental Operations 2014: A.9791-C - Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.