BILL NUMBER: S4707B
SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, the criminal procedure law and the
retirement and social security law, in relation to the geographic
area of employment of state university police officers, centralization
of the state university police, and hiring of state university police
officers; and to repeal paragraph (d) of subdivision 34-a of section
1.20 of the criminal procedure law relating thereto
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 states legislative intent and finds that maintaining a safe
environment on SUNY campuses is of critical importance. The section
further states that the current structure of SUNY policing is ineffi-
cient and inconsistent across campuses and that a more centralized
command structure would improve oversight, coordination, and public
safety.
Section 2 amends paragraphs of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the
education law to establish a commissioner of state university police who
must be a sworn member of the force and complete required law enforce-
ment training. The section authorizes the commissioner to appoint
university police officers and one deputy commissioner and grants the
commissioner supervisory and administrative authority over all SUNY
police officers statewide. The section also preserves existing unclassi-
fied service positions and collective bargaining protections for employ-
ees in the professional staff negotiating unit (PSNU). In addition, the
section clarifies that SUNY police may only exercise off-campus authori-
ty pursuant to written agreements with adjoining law enforcement agen-
cies relating to mutual aid, assistance, and off-campus events.
Section 3 amends paragraph (s) of subdivision 34 of section 1.20 of the
criminal procedure law to clarify that sworn members of the state
university police are police officers under the criminal procedure law.
Sections 4 and 5 amend paragraph (a) of subdivision 34-a of section
1.20 of the criminal procedure law to clarify that New York State
constitutes the geographic area of employment for state university
police officers, consistent with other statewide law enforcement agen-
cies.
Section 6 repeals paragraph (d) of subdivision 34-a of section 1.20 of
the criminal procedure law.
Section 7 amends subparagraph 6 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of
section 211 of the retirement and social security law to make conforming
changes related to the commissioner of state university police and
university police officers.
Section 8 establishes an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, the SUNY police system operates under a decentralized struc-
ture that can create inconsistencies in oversight, command structure,
and operational standards across campuses. This can lead to uneven
enforcement practices and inefficiencies in administration and coordi-
nation between campuses.
This bill creates a more centralized and professional statewide struc-
ture for SUNY policing by establishing a commissioner of state universi-
ty police with clear supervisory authority over university police oper-
ations statewide. The bill aligns SUNY policing more closely with other
statewide law enforcement agencies and ensures that leadership positions
are held by individuals with appropriate law enforcement experience and
training.
The legislation also clarifies the statewide geographic authority of
SUNY police officers while still requiring written agreements with local
law enforcement agencies for off-campus operations. This helps improve
coordination and consistency while respecting the authority of local
police agencies.
In addition, the bill protects current collective bargaining rights and
preserves the status of existing unclassified employees within the SUNY
police structure. Overall, this legislation modernizes the adminis-
tration of SUNY policing and promotes a more consistent and effective
approach to campus public safety throughout New York State.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall become a law; provided, however , that the amend-
ments to paragraph (a) of subdivision 34-a of section 1.20 of the crimi-
nal procedure law made by section four of this act shall be subject to
the expiration and reversion of such paragraph pursuant to section 3 of
chapter 428 of the law of 1999 , as amended , when upon such date the
provisions of section five this act shall take effect.

Statutes affected:
S4707: 355 education law, 355(2) education law, 1.20 criminal procedure law, 1.20(34) criminal procedure law, 1.20(34-a) criminal procedure law, 211 retirement and social security law, 211(2) retirement and social security law
S4707A: 355 education law, 355(2) education law, 1.20 criminal procedure law, 1.20(34) criminal procedure law, 1.20(34-a) criminal procedure law, 211 retirement and social security law, 211(2) retirement and social security law
S4707B: 355 education law, 355(2) education law, 1.20 criminal procedure law, 1.20(34) criminal procedure law, 1.20(34-a) criminal procedure law, 211 retirement and social security law, 211(2) retirement and social security law