BILL NUMBER: S1527

SPONSOR: TEDISCO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the state finance law and the tax law, in relation to
establishing the bullet-proof vests for officers fund

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill significantly improves the safety of law enforcement officials
as well as canines by creating a fund to provide bulletproof vests for
departments not currently equipped with such apparatus.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

This bill adds a new a new section 99-ii to the state Finance Law and
will provide the following provisions:

1. A special fund to be known as the "bullet proof vests for officers
fund" is hereby established in the custody of the state comptroller and
              

the commissioner of taxation and finance.

2. The fund shall consist of all monies transferred to such fund Pursu-
ant to law, all monies required by any provision of law to be paid Into
or credited to the fund, all monies from gifts pursuant to section Six
hundred thirty-d of the tax law and any interest earnings which may
Accrue from the investment of monies in the fund. Nothing contained
herein shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests
for the purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing
them into the fund according to law.

3. Monies of the fund, when allocated, shall be available to the divi-
sion of criminal justice services for the purpose of providing police
officers and canines serving in canine units with bullet-proof vests for
use in the line of duty. Bulletproof vests shall be distributed at the
discretion of the commissioner of criminal justice services, pursuant to
guidelines established by such commissioner for statewide distribution
of such bulletproof vests.

4. Monies shall be payable from the fund on the audit and warrant of The
comptroller on vouchers approved and certified by the commissioner of
criminal justice services Additionally, this bill adds a new a new
section 630-e to the state Tax Law which will enable an individual in
any taxable year to contribute to the bullet-proof vests for officers
fund via a voluntary contribution on their New York State form.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Gunshot wounds are one of the leading causes of death for law enforce-
ment officers killed in the line of duty. According to data published by
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), approximately 93% of the 511
nonfederal law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty between
2004 and 2013 were killed by a firearm.

This alarming rate of violence and shooting incidents threaten more and
more of those lives we rely on for public safety, however not all
departments equip personnel with bulletproof vests. To a greater extent,
our canine patrols are not equipped with adequate vest protection. This
is especially important because our canines are often the first respon-
ders to enter a dangerous environment thus warranting similar protection
to that of uniformed personnel.

These vests not only offer protection from gunshots, they also provide
our law enforcement officials and canines protection against stab wounds
and shrapnel from explosions.

Providing those law enforcement agencies in need with bulletproof vests
is an appropriate step in ensuring our police officers along with their
canine counterparts have the protection they need and deserve as they
risk their lives to serve and protect the citizens of our state.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

02/14/17: S.4429 REFERRED TO FINANCE
01/03/18: S.4429 REFERRED TO FINANCE
02/21/18: S.4429 AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
02/21/18: S.4429 PRINT NUMBER 4429A
01/11/19: S.1152 REFERRED TO FINANCE
01/08/20: S.1152 REFERRED TO FINANCE

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.