What's happening
This bill allows the city of Buffalo to require newly hired police officers to live within the city during their employment.
Why it matters
Potential for Increased Community Connection. By requiring new police officers to live within Buffalo, the bill aims to foster stronger ties and accountability between law enforcement and the communities they serve, possibly leading to improved trust and communication.
Impact on Police Recruitment. The residency requirement could affect the pool of eligible candidates for the Buffalo Police Department, potentially making recruitment more challenging but also ensuring that officers have a direct stake in the community's well-being.
Exemption for Current Officers. The bill explicitly protects current officers and those hired within 30 days of the new law’s passage from the residency rule, preventing retroactive disruptions to existing personnel and contracts.
Local Autonomy and Precedent. By granting Buffalo unique authority to set this local requirement, the bill could set a precedent for other cities seeking more control over their police hiring policies, highlighting the ongoing debate over local versus state oversight.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Buffalo Police Residency
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1173
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. PEOPLES-STOKES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to authorizing the city of Buffalo to adopt a local law requiring police officers to be residents of Buffalo
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 76 to read as follows:
76. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision two of this section, or any provision of any general, special or local law, charter, code, ordinance, resolution, rule or regulation to the contrary, the city of Buffalo, as of the effective date of this subdivision, shall have the authority to enact a local law subsequent to the effective date of this subdivision requiring any person who is appointed as a member of the police force of such city to be a resident of such a city during such person's employment as a member of such police force; provided however, that nothing in this subdivision shall authorize such local law to affect any person who entered such city service as a police officer prior to thirty days subsequent to the effective date of such local law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02966-01-5
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.