Bill Text: NY A02597 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Sets internal investigative standards and practices for police officers with respect to matters of police conduct; supersedes contrary provisions of law or collective bargaining agreements.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-14 - enacting clause stricken [A02597 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-A02597-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2597 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 24, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. GANTT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Employees AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to internal investi- gative standards and practices for police officers The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding a new section 2 204-b to read as follows: 3 § 204-b. Internal investigative standards and practices for police 4 officers. 1. The legislature hereby finds and declares that the conduct 5 and competence of police officers are matters of vital importance to 6 public safety and welfare and to the maintenance of civil society. 7 These matters are effected with the highest public interest. 8 2. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, the following 9 procedures shall apply to investigations of the conduct of a police 10 officer by any police agency, notwithstanding any contrary provision of 11 any collective bargaining agreement. Any collective bargaining agreement 12 or portion thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this section is 13 hereby declared to be void as against public policy. 14 3. Any investigation into the conduct of a police officer shall be 15 conducted as follows: 16 (a) questioning and investigation of officers shall commence imme- 17 diately upon the occurrence of cause therefor; 18 (b) whenever more than one officer is to be investigated or ques- 19 tioned, all of the involved officers shall be questioned separately; 20 (c) no preliminary or unofficial statements shall be taken; 21 (d) all statements shall be recorded verbatim; and 22 (e) questioning and investigation of non-officer witnesses shall 23 commence immediately upon the occurrence of cause therefor. 24 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD00734-01-9