Griffo and Hunter bill signed into law by governor

New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-C-Rome, announced today that legislation he introduced that would support public safety in Central New York, the Mohawk Valley and on Oneida Indian Nation lands has been signed into law.

The legislation (S.8692-A/A.9441-A) allows Madison and Oneida counties to enter into agreements with the Oneida Indian Nation to house inmates in their jails pursuant to orders issued by the Oneida Indian Nation Court. It continues Sen. Griffo’s long-time support for increased partnership between regional governments and law enforcement agencies, which has dramatically enhanced public safety in local communities. 

The historic 2013 Agreement between the Oneida Indian Nation, New York State and Oneida and Madison counties, which resolved all legal disputes and created a new era of collaboration in the region, created the pathway for the recently passed legislation. In addition to enabling the passage of Sen. Griffo’s new legislation, the 2013 Agreement has generated more than $700 million in Silver Covenant payments to support public safety initiatives in local communities along with other public programs and allowed the deputization of Oneida Indian Nation Police Department officers by the Oneida and Madison County Sheriffs’ Offices to increase on-duty officer availability and expand coordination between agencies. 

Under the new legislation, criminal defendants may be remanded to the county facilities under Oneida Indian Nation court directives issued pursuant the Oneida Indian Nation Rules of Criminal Procedure and consistent with the federal Indian Civil Rights Act.

Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter, D-Syracuse, sponsored the bill in the Assembly.

“I am pleased that this bill has been signed into law by the governor and thank Assemblywoman Hunter for working with me on this issue,” said Sen. Griffo. “This legislation will support law enforcement efforts in the region and is a further expression of inter-governmental cooperation between the Oneida Indian Nation and Oneida and Madison counties.”  

"This legislation represents a significant step forward in strengthening the bonds between local and tribal law enforcement in our region,” said Assemblywoman Hunter. "By enabling closer collaboration between the Oneida Indian Nation, Oneida County, and Madison County, we are creating a safer environment for all residents. I am proud to have worked alongside Sen. Griffo on this important bill, which underscores our commitment to public safety and inter-governmental cooperation in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley."

“The collaboration between the Oneida Indian Nation Police Department, Oneida Sheriff’s Office and Madison County Sheriff’s Office has made our communities safer and become a national model for tribal and local public safety coordination,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter said. “This legislation will help deepen our partnership and improve our efforts to make our region a safe place to live, visit and work. We are grateful to Sen. Griffo and Assembly Member Hunter for their efforts to pass this legislation into law.”

“I would like to thank Sen. Griffo for his support and work on this legislation,” said Madison County Board Chairman James J. Cunningham. “The county-tribal detention agreement with the Oneida Indian Nation further strengthens our partnership. Our law enforcement officers have worked together for years to keep our communities safe and secure. This bill is just another way to create a stronger inter-governmental relationship that benefits everyone.”

“The county-tribal detention agreement with the Oneida Indian Nation is a reflection of the cooperation Madison County law enforcement agencies and the Oneida Indian Nation Police already have with each other,” said Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood. “This new legislation allows us to further support each other and public safety. Madison County has the ability and space to house individuals who have been detained or incarcerated through their Tribal Court. The arrangement is not only beneficial to the county but also those incarcerated keeping them closer to their community. It is also beneficial to the safety of our communities. We are grateful to Sen. Griffo for his efforts with this legislation.” 

“I thank Sen. Griffo for his strong support of this important public safety bill,” said Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol. “The strong partnership between the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the Oneida Indian Nation Police is a key part of keeping our county and our people safe. From our deputization agreement in 2013 to this recently signed county-tribal detention agreement and everything we’ve done together in between, we are a successful model of how local and tribal law enforcement agencies partnering with elected officials at the county and state levels can accomplish great things.”

"This legislation marks a significant milestone in our ongoing partnership with the Oneida Indian Nation,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “By allowing Oneida and Madison counties to enter into county-tribal detention agreements, we are strengthening our collaborative efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all our residents. This agreement not only reinforces our commitment to public safety, but also demonstrates the power of cooperation between regional governments and law enforcement agencies. I thank Sen. Griffo and Assemblywoman Hunter for their efforts to usher this bill into law. Together, we are building safer, more resilient communities for everyone."

###