BILL NUMBER: S8837
SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to optional disa-
bility coverage for county probation officers
 
PURPOSE:
To allow for optional disability coverage for probation officers.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Sections 1-2. Amend section 207-c(I) of the General Municipal Law to
include county probation officers among the employees who shall receive
disability coverage equal to their foil salary in the event that they
are injured in the performance of their duties.
Section 3. Establishes an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Probation officers' duties involve them in virtually all phases of the
criminal justice process, including investigations, presentencing, crim-
inal supervision, treatment and other preventative corrective services.
Often, probation is relied upon more frequently as a viable alternative
to incarceration or detention. Today's probation officers find them-
selves performing many of the functions performed by their counterparts
in the police and corrections services.
Like other police and peace officers throughout the State, probation
officers are exposed on a daily basis to the risks and dangers involved
in managing an increasingly violent criminal population. In addition,
they are regularly exposed to significant amounts of stress and aggra-
vation, not to mention the possibility of bodily injury that may result
from the performance of their duties. Probation officers, however, are
not eligible under current law to receive comparable disability coverage
for injuries they sustain in the line of performance of those duties.
This legislation would allow for probation offices to receive equal
treatment by permitting county employers and employee representatives to
negotiate for this benefit thrOugh the collective bargaining process at
their option. All costs would be incurred by the employer and/or employ-
ee, as determined through collective bargaining.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.366/A.147 - Referred to Local Govertunent/Reported to Ways
and Means
2021-22: S.2633/A,994 - Referred to Local Government/Reported to Ways
and Means
2019-20: S.1929/A.2232 - Referred to Local Government/Passed Assembly
2017-18: S.7554, S.2516 / A.9667, A.473 - Veto Memos 288 + 185
2016: S.7928/A.10613 - Referred to Local Government/Referred to Ways and
Means
2009-10: A.4765 - Reported to Ways and Means 2007-08: A.167 - Passed
Assembly
2005-06: S.3237/A.980 - Referred to Local Government/Passed Assembly
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S8837: 207-c general municipal law, 207-c(1) general municipal law