In a perfect world cop killers would automatically be sentenced to life without parole. It would be a crime to harass a police officer. VSF payments would increase when the cost of living increases. It would be illegal for the department to have quotas for any kind of police action. It would be a crime to disclose an officer’s personal information, and there would be no fee for making a police officer’s home phone number unlisted.

So, in an effort to make the world more perfect than it is, the PBA is lobbying strongly for the lawmakers in Albany to enact legislation to make legal realities of these and many other important issues for its police officers. The PBA is pursuing a total of 50 legislative initiatives in the state’s capital. All are geared to make life better and safer for you and your family. Many of them target issues that will be very important to you once you retire from the NYPD. All have been developed with your best interest at heart, now and when you retire.

Getting laws passed in Albany is an uphill climb. Many competing interests are at work that can thwart even the most practical potential legislation. The PBA has had success in the past helping to enact legislationin its members’ interest, and we’ll continue to stalk the legislative corridors on your behalf.

The following (at right) is a sampling of legislative issues the PBA is pursuing in Albany this year. The names in parentheses are the State Senate and/or Assembly sponsors of the bills. Check the New York State Legislature’s web site to learn which lawmakers represent your district. (Click here for a complete list on this website of the bills we are trying to get passed.)

S319 (Golden); A7799 (Destito) - Penal Law - Provides that the sentence for commission of the crime of murder of a police officer is death or life without parole.

A6926 (Nolan) - Expands the quota penalty provisions to include a ticket, summons or arrest authorized by any general, special or local law.

S6717 (Golden); A9977 (Abbate) - Establishes that public employee discipline is a mandatory negotiable term and condition of employment.

S489 (Bonacic); A1474 (Gunther) - Public Officers Law - Authorizes a member of the New York City police or fire department to reside in a county located within 100 miles of the city.

S3258-A (Maltese); A6237-A (Cymbrowitz) - Presumes certain diseases to have been incurred in the performance and discharge of duty if a previous physical found no evidence of such disease.

S3807 (Leibell) - Waives the fee charged for unlisted telephone numbers of police officers.

A4568 (Weisenberg); S2862 (Volker) - Makes certain communications received by a police union official in course of duties from police officer union members privileged in certain cases.

S591-B (Nozzolio); A372-A (Morelle) - Education Law - Provides tuition awards to children of firefighters, police officers, and EMTs with permanent and total disabilities.

S278 (Alesi); A6812 (Christensen) - Penal Law - Establishes the crime of unlawful failure to obey a police officer while operating a motor vehicle.

S1061-A (Maltese); A2184-A (Abbate) - Extends Tier-I retirement status to all members of state or city police officers or firefighters retirement system.

A3492-A (Nolan) - Provides that unlawful disclosure of personal information concerning a police officer shall be aggravated harassment in the second degree.

A3867 (Abbate); S1990 (Maltese) - Allows members of New York City police force the option of taking a monetary payment in lieu of terminal leave at the rate applicable on the date of retirement.

S1615 (Maziarz) - Increases the penalties for criminal impersonation in the first and second degrees and for criminal sale of a police uniform.

S1614 (Maziarz) - Prohibits keeping soft body ballistic armor vests for police officers in active use for more than 5 years after issuance unless otherwise directed.

A3255 (Pretlow) - Makes provisions regarding the unlawful sale of law enforcement identification.

S1817-A (Skelos); A6545 (Abbate) - Permits retired New York City employees who are receiving variable supplements benefits to receive cost of living adjustment payment.

S3011 (Robach); A6776 (Pretlow) - Permits police officers to own a premises licensed to sell beer and wine products at retail for off-premises consumption.

A1710 (Koon); S2780 (Robach) - Prohibits the purchase or sale of protective body vests except to law enforcement or military personnel.

A3985 (Lafayette); S3877 (Volker) - Makes intentional refusal to heed and obey a police or peace officer a violation.

A4716 (Espaillat) - Provides additional compensation to certain city employees who possess and use foreign languages in performance of duties.

A4861-B (Mayersohn); S3740-A (Saland) - Requires testing of criminal defendants and juveniles for transmissible disease, in certain cases; facilitates voluntary testing of crime victims.

A1829-A (Gianaris); S5335-A (Maltese) - Authorizes prosecuting agency to move to have identity of undercover public officers and employees protected while testifying in court.

A9064 (Jaffee); S6215 (Morahan) - Decreases the number of hours for eligibility for certain benefits for persons who participated in the World Trade Center rescue, recovery and cleanup operations.