Designates fire marshals employed in the Long Island Rail Road Company Office of the Fire Marshals as peace officers

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick says this is needed

On September 27, 1979, the Long Island Rail Road Fire Marshal's Office was established as part of a transfer from the Long Island Rail Road Police Department to the LIRR System Safety Department. Currently, the Office of the Fire Marshal continues to perform many of the same duties and responsibilities that its predecessors began with long ago, and such has, expanded its duties in conjunction with the demands of changing hazards. While times and technologies change, the goals of providing an environment safe from threat of fire and other hazards remains as the primary goal of the office. Criminal Procedure Law 2.10 provides a list of agencies that are designated by an amendment to this law, many exam- ples of which are Fire Marshals. A peace officer is a public official who is charged with keeping the peace. These officers are granted certain powers that they can use to fulfill their duties, including the power to make arrests. Granting peace officer status to members of the Long Island Rail Road Fire Marshal's Office will enhance the ability of enforcement by providing a means and method to enforce regulations in dealing with violations of the Uniform Code of New York that are consid- ered to be misdemeanors under New York State Executive Law. Examples of peace officers include game wardens, park rangers, sheriffs, marshals, fire marshals, probation officers, and prison guards. Gaining this designation will help the LIRR Office of Fire Marshals deal with viola- tors of legal statutes caused by contractors and other entities that are outside the realm of specific leases and agreements held with the Long Island Rail Road.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.