BILL NUMBER: S8496            REVISED MEMO 05/10/2018

SPONSOR: MARCHIONE
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in
relation to designating members of the security force at Saratoga Hospi-
tal as peace officers

 
PURPOSE:

To grant members of the security force at Saratoga Hospital with the
required training and course of instruction, peace officer powers
subject to certain conditions.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law by adding a
new subdivision 85. Peace officer status is limited to the security
force within and directly adjacent to the hospital buildings on the
medical campus at 211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs, New York.  These
Peace officers would have the following powers as described in:

              

Section 9.41 of the mental hygiene law, to temporarily detain or take
into custody any person who is mentally ill and is conducting himself or
herself in a manner which is likely to result in serious harm to the
person or others

Section 2.20, subdivision 1 (a), (b) and (d) of the criminal procedure
law and with probable cause or actual knowledge to believe that an indi-
vidual has committed an offense, make warrantless arrests, use physical
and deadly physical force in making an arrest or preventing an escape
and to issue appearance tickets

Section 2.20, subdivision 1 (c), (h) and (i) of the criminal procedure
law, to carry out warrantless searches, to possess and take custody of
firearms not owned by the peace officer, for the purpose of disposing,
guarding, or any other lawful purpose and any other power authorized to
exercise by special or local law or charter.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

By granting the security officers of Saratoga Hospital peace officer
status, public safety is improved within the hospital as well as the
grounds of the medical campus and in turn, surrounding neighborhoods.

Security guards at Kaleida Health and Strong Memorial Hospital have been
granted peace officer status in the last few years and Saratoga Hospital
feels it very important for their officers to have this status as well.
Additionally, the Hospital is the largest healthcare provider in the
immediate area and is an integral part of the critical infrastructure.
As such it requires the highest level of protection in order to maintain
the vision and goals consistent with the NYS Homeland Security Strategy.
Saratoga Hospital desires this proactive measure before serious harm
takes place at the Hospital.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.6237 of 2016 (Passed Senate).

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:

Immediately