Senate Bill S6349

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6349

SPONSOR: BORRELLO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to authorize Franklynn Smith to take the competitive civil
service examination and be placed on the eligible list for appointment
as a full-time police officer with the village of Perry

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Authorizes Franklynn Smith to take the competitive civil service exam-
ination and be placed on the eligible list for appointment as a fulltime
police office with the village of Perry.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Franklynn Smith, who has been continuously employed by the
village of Perry, in the county of Wyoming, as a part-time police offi-
cer, shall be eligible to take the competitive civil service examination
for the position of police officer and shall, contingent upon his score
on such examination, be eligible to be placed on the eligible list for
              

appointment as a full-time police officer with the village of Perry.

Section 2: Franklynn Smith shall otherwise be subject to the merit and
fitness provisions of the civil service law applicable to full-time
police officers.

Section 3: This act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Officer Franklynn Smith has been serving the Village of Perry as a part-
time police officer since November 2023. Despite his part-time status,
he has proven to be an exceptional asset to Chief Michael Grover's
department. Officer Smith is eager to take the upcoming Police Officer
Civil Service exam to transition into a full-time role with the Village
of Perry Police Department. This legislation is essential to permit
Officer Smith to take the exam, as he is over the age limit of 35 years
old.

Law enforcement agencies across New York State are facing a historic
shortage of qualified candidates willing to become police officers.
This shortage is not only seen by local police agencies but also by
sheriff's offices and the New York State Troopers. Unfortunately, many
agencies have discovered that the candidates who do apply are often not
qualified due to aging out or being denied employment following back-
ground investigations.

Given this context, it is particularly disheartening to see a qualified,
effective, and productive officer like Franklynn Smith get passed over
for full-time or competitive part-time positions based solely on his
age. Officer Smith has demonstrated exceptional dedication, skill, and
commitment to his role, making him an invaluable member of the police
force. Allowing him to take the Civil Service exam despite being over
the age limit would not only benefit the Village of Perry but also help
address the broader issue of staffing shortages in law enforcement.


This legislation is crucial to ensure that experienced and capable offi-
cers like Franklynn Smith are not excluded from advancing their careers
due to arbitrary age restrictions. By permitting Officer Smith to take
the exam, we can retain a highly qualified individual who has already
proven his worth and dedication to the community.  This move will also
set a precedent for other agencies to reconsider age limitations and
focus on the qualifications and capabilities of their candidates.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2025; New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately