BILL NUMBER: S507
SPONSOR: PALUMBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to permitting certain court
officials to possess weapons, firearms, rifles and shotguns in
restricted and sensitive locations
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation will exempt family court judges, county court judges,
family support magistrates and referees from the Concealed Carry
Improvement Act (CCIA) which will allow them to carry legally owned
firearms for protection.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Sections 1 and 2 are amended to include family court judges, county
court judges, family support magistrates and referees.
Section 3 sets for the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Supreme Court in New York has two branches, Criminal Term and Civil
Term in each of the five boroughs. The Criminal Term of the Supreme
Court handles various felony and misdemeanor cases, including murder,
burglaries, conspiracies, weapons charges, drugs and traffic cases. Due
to the potentially threatening environment, the judges are allowed to
carry legally owned firearms.
However, outside of New York City, several felony cases are handled by
county court judges as no such Supreme Criminal Term exists. This
exemption is needed to bring the rest of the State into compliance.
These judges also receive death threats and can be in harm's way so they
too should be allowed to protect themselves.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024 S./8808
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately