BILL NUMBER: S759

SPONSOR: TEDISCO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to granting
peace officer status to officers and members of the security force of
Ellis Hospital

 
PURPOSE:

To enhance the safety of patients, medical personnel, and the public by
granting peace officer status to the hospital's security officers

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one creates a new subdivision in the criminal procedure law to
outline the limited terms and conditions under which peace officer
status would be granted to security officers at Ellis Hospital. It lists
the powers that might be exercised by such peace officers only on or
directly adjacent to the grounds and properties of the hospital, its
              

affiliates and clinics. Nothing in the new subdivision shall be deemed
to authorize any such officer to carry a firearm unless a license has
been issued.

 
EXISTING LAW:

Section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law lists those who may be desig-
nated as peace officers. A modified or limited peace officer status has
been granted by statute in the past to security officers at various
hospitals and health care facilities. Most recently, chapters 502 and
504 of the Laws of 2012 granted peace officer status to security offi-
cers of Kaleida Health and the University of Rochester Medical Center.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Ellis Hospital (also known as Ellis Medicine) operates four medical
campuses in Schenectady County, including the main hospital on Nott
Street, the McClellan Street Health Center (outpatient medical
services), the State Street Health Center (outpatient mental health
services) and Bellevue Woman's Center. Affiliated services include the
Belanger School of Nursing and the Ellis Family Medicine Residency.
Medical staff and personnel are experiencing increased numbers of
dangerous .encounters that require prompt law enforcement response to
protect the safety of patients, medical students, visitors, and medical
and support staff. Ellis operates the only Emergency Department and the
only 24/7 Mental Health Crisis unit in the County.  Ellis is currently
the only suboxone provider in the County. As a result, typical emergen-
cies may include unauthorized individuals seeking narcotics, disruptive
actions by psychiatric patients, threatening behaviors by noncustodial
parents, and gang activity surrounding Emergency Department services
following community violence. Ellis works closely with local law
enforcement, which has raised no objections to this request.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

06/18/18: S.9111 REFERRED TO RULES

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Ninety days after enactment