S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3000--A
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 28, 2013
___________
Introduced by Sen. ADAMS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the penal law and the railroad law, in relation to
authorizing voluntary programs for conductors and motormen to carry
tasers, electronic stun guns or dazer-taser computer controlled
optical distractors during the performance of his or her duties
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision a of section 265.20 of the penal law is amended
by adding a new paragraph 17 to read as follows:
17. (A) POSSESSION OR USE OF A TASER OR ELECTRONIC STUN GUN BY CONDUC-
TORS OR MOTORMEN, AS SUCH TERMS ARE USED IN THE RAILROAD LAW, WHILE
PERFORMING RAILROAD DUTIES.
(B) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH THE TERMS "TASER" AND "ELEC-
TRONIC STUN GUN" SHALL MEAN ANY DEVICE DESIGNED PRIMARILY AS A WEAPON,
THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO STUN, CAUSE MENTAL DISORIENTATION, KNOCK OUT
OR PARALYZE A PERSON BY PASSING A HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL SHOCK TO SUCH
PERSON. THE TERM DAZER-TASER SHALL MEAN ANY DEVICE DESIGNED PRIMARILY AS
A WEAPON, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO CAUSE A TRANSITORY REDUCTION OF
VISUAL ACUITY, ELIMINATING THE THREAT'S ABILITY TO SEE, ENGAGE OR EFFEC-
TIVELY TARGET THE OPERATOR.
S 2. The railroad law is amended by adding a new section 65-a to read
as follows:
S 65-A. USE OF TASERS, ELECTRONIC STUN GUNS OR DAZER-TASERS BY CONDUC-
TORS AND MOTORMEN. 1. EVERY CONDUCTOR OR MOTORMAN WHO PARTICIPATES IN A
PROGRAM TO BE ELIGIBLE TO CARRY A TASER, STUN GUN OR DAZER-TASER IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE
USE OF DEADLY PHYSICAL FORCE AND TASERS, ELECTRONIC STUN GUNS OR DAZER-
TASERS, WHICH SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STATE POLICE.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06089-03-3
S. 3000--A 2
2. NO EMPLOYER WHO HAS VOLUNTARILY INCORPORATED INTO ITS ORGANIZATION
A PROGRAM TO AUTHORIZE CONDUCTORS AND MOTORMEN TO CARRY TASERS, STUN
GUNS OR DAZER-TASERS SHALL ALLOW ANY CONDUCTOR OR MOTORMAN IT EMPLOYS TO
CARRY OR USE A TASER, ELECTRONIC STUN GUN OR DAZER-TASER DURING ANY
PHASE OF SUCH CONDUCTOR OR MOTORMAN'S OFFICIAL DUTIES, WHICH CONSTITUTES
ON-DUTY EMPLOYMENT, UNLESS SUCH CONDUCTOR OR MOTORMAN HAS SATISFACTORILY
COMPLETED A COURSE OF TRAINING APPROVED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STATE
POLICE IN THE USE OF DEADLY PHYSICAL FORCE AND TASERS, ELECTRONIC STUN
GUNS OR DAZER-TASERS, AND ANNUALLY RECEIVES INSTRUCTION IN DEADLY PHYS-
ICAL FORCE AND THE USE OF TASERS, ELECTRONIC STUN GUNS OR DAZER-TASERS
AS APPROVED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STATE POLICE. SUCH TRAINING SHALL
RELATE TO THE SPECIAL NATURE OF THE DUTIES OF THE CONDUCTORS AND MOTOR-
MEN.
3. UPON THE FAILURE OR REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS
SECTION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL APPLY TO
THE SUPREME COURT FOR AN ORDER DIRECTED TO THE EMPLOYER RESPONSIBLE
REQUIRING COMPLIANCE. UPON SUCH APPLICATION, THE COURT MAY ISSUE SUCH
ORDER AS MAY BE JUST, AND A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDER OF THE
COURT SHALL BE A CONTEMPT OF COURT AND PUNISHABLE AS SUCH.
4. EVERY EMPLOYER OF CONDUCTORS OR MOTORMEN SHALL REPORT TO THE SUPER-
INTENDENT OF STATE POLICE, IN SUCH FORM AND AT SUCH TIME AS THE SUPER-
INTENDENT MAY BY REGULATION REQUIRE, THE NAMES OF ALL CONDUCTORS AND
MOTORMEN WHO HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED ANY OF THE TRAINING REQUIRE-
MENTS PRESCRIBED BY THIS SECTION.
5. A CERTIFICATE ATTESTING TO SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED UNDER THIS SECTION AWARDED TO ANY CONDUCTOR OR
MOTORMAN PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL REMAIN VALID:
(A) DURING THE HOLDER'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE AS A CONDUCTOR OR MOTORMAN;
AND
(B) FOR TWO YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN INTER-
RUPTION IN SUCH SERVICE WHERE THE HOLDER HAD, IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO SUCH
INTERRUPTION, SERVED AS A CONDUCTOR OR MOTORMAN FOR LESS THAN TWO
CONSECUTIVE YEARS; OR
(C) FOR FOUR YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN INTER-
RUPTION IN SUCH SERVICE WHERE THE HOLDER HAD, IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO SUCH
INTERRUPTION, SERVED AS A CONDUCTOR OR MOTORMAN FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE
YEARS OR LONGER.
6. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
(A) THE TERM "INTERRUPTION" SHALL MEAN A PERIOD OF SEPARATION FROM
EMPLOYMENT AS A CONDUCTOR OR MOTORMAN BY REASON OF SUCH CONDUCTOR'S OR
MOTORMAN'S LEAVE OF ABSENCE, RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL, OTHER THAN REMOVAL
FOR CAUSE; AND
(B) THE TERMS "TASER" AND "ELECTRONIC STUN GUN" SHALL MEAN ANY DEVICE
DESIGNED PRIMARILY AS A WEAPON, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO STUN, CAUSE
MENTAL DISORIENTATION, KNOCK OUT OR PARALYZE A PERSON BY PASSING A HIGH
VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL SHOCK TO SUCH PERSON.
(C) THE TERM "DAZER-TASER" SHALL MEAN ANY DEVICE DESIGNED PRIMARILY AS
A WEAPON, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO CAUSE A TRANSITORY REDUCTION OF
VISUAL ACUITY, ELIMINATING THE THREAT'S ABILITY TO SEE, ENGAGE OR EFFEC-
TIVELY TARGET THE OPERATOR.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or
before such date.