BILL NUMBER: S8421
SPONSOR: BRESLIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to increasing the age
of eligibility for provisional or permanent appointment of certain
police officers from thirty-five to forty
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To increase the maximum age that a police officer can serve.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends section 58 of the civil service law to raise the
maximum age to allow police officers to serve until they are forty years
old. Section two establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Attracting individuals to fill public service jobs continues to be a
challenge across all positions in local government and law enforcement
is not immune. Over the past three years civil service bureaus and law
enforcement municipalities have witnessed a deep decline in individuals
seeking law enforcement as a career. Out of all the positions in govern-
ment, local law enforcement has an age limit of 35 for an individual to
apply for the opportunity to sit for a civil service exam. This require-
ment does not apply to other physically demanding jobs such as fire-
fighting and public works to name just some examples. The maximum age
for State Police was recently raised by the Governor from 29 to 35 which
resulted in the "highest Trooper candidate processing turnout in over a
decade." This legislation seeks to raise the current maximum age for
local law enforcement from 35 to 40 years old. Law enforcement has
changed dramatically over the past decade with the adoption of community
policing programs and an increased awareness of best practices and a
greater interest in transforming policing. Improved training and certif-
ication programs have provided law enforcement with better approaches to
conflict resolution with the goal of avoiding physical confrontations to
the extent possible, moving away from certain approaches that were
emphasized in the past. There is an enhanced focus on trainings that
cover diversity and implicit bias, best practices for encounters with
disabled people, how to best engage with those who have mental health
disorders, deescalating domestic violence, and more. Law enforcement
training seeks to emphasize placing the proper focus on deescalation
skills to protect the public writ large. Increasing the eligibility age
to 40 years old will grow the pool of potential applicants and engage
those who have what may be the best education for this field, that is
lived experience. Often, we recognize that individuals are more likely
to make mistakes early in their lives and learning from these mistakes
leads to greater maturity and wisdom. Raising the age for individuals to
apply for law enforcement shows that we are looking to attract mature
individuals with life experience to protect the public.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
No fiscal implications.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately