Designates security officers for the village court of the village of Pleasantville as peace officers

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Andrea Stewart-Cousins says this is needed

The Village of Pleasantville, located in Westchester County, employs Court Security Officers in its Village Court. These officers are respon- sible for maintaining order and decorum in the Village Court and for providing security in the courtroom and on court premises. The position and job specifications of a Court Security Officer in the Village are regulated by the Westchester County Department of Human Resources, pursuant to the Westchester County Civil Service Rules. Under the Westchester County Department of Human Resources' job specifi- cation, the job of Court Security Officer is distinguished from the job of Court Attendant "in that this position is a peace officer." While Westchester County has stated its intent for Court Security Offi- cers in the county to be designated as Peace Officers, the County itself does not have the authority to make this designation. Existing law states that individuals are designated Peace Officers only if the job they hold is listed in Section 2.10 of the State Criminal Procedure Law. Therefore, designating the Village's Court Security Officers as Peace Officers requires action by the State Legislature. This bill amends the Criminal Procedure Law by adding the Village's Court Security Officers to the list of jobs across the State whose work- ers are designated as Peace Officers. This will give the Village's Court Security Officers the power to make warrantless arrests, carry out constitutional warrantless searches, and issue appearance tickets, among other powers, when acting within their official duties. Additionally, the bill restates that Court Security Officers can only carry a firearm during their job if they apply for, and receive, the appropriate firearm licenses.

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.