Relates to authorizing geographic pay differentials for certain police officers; authorizes a pay differential for regional state park police, forest ranger, environmental conservation officer, and university police officer titles when wage rates of police officers in a given location are substantially higher than the wage rates paid by the state.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7721
SPONSOR: Pheffer Amato TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to authorizing
geographic pay differentials for certain police officers
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill adds a new subdivision 8 to section 134 of the
civil service law to authorize the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation, the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation,
and the Chancellor of the State University of New York, with the
approval of the Director of the Budget, to provide geographic pay for
forest rangers, park police, environmental conservation officers and
university (SONY) police officers.
Section 2 of the bill provides for an immediate effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Forest rangers, park police, environmental conservation officers and
university (SONY) police officers work and reside in some areas of New
York State where the cost of living index far exceeds that of their
colleagues who work and reside in other areas of the state. Not with-
standing this fact, the compensation structure for these public employ-
ees does not provide geographic pay. This legislation would remedy this
shortcoming by authorizing the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation, the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation,
and the Chancellor of the State University of New York - with the
approval of the Director of the Budget, to provide a geographic pay
adjustment for these employees who work and live in high-cost areas of
the state.
The lack of a geographic pay adjustment benefit for these employees has
created significant attrition, diversity, and recruitment problems with-
in each of these state agencies. Statistics show that every year, dozens
of highly trained (at state expense) diverse employees working in these
state agencies are lured away from state service by local municipal law
enforcement agencies. These state employees are offered superior sala-
ries, better benefits and retirement packages that reflect the cost of
living by local law enforcement agencies. When state employees leave
these state agencies to take a job in local law enforcement, there are
negative consequences to the state. For example, the state not only
loses a highly trained, qualified officer requiring the state to train a
new officer at significant taxpayer expense it also loses individuals
who have valuable experience.
If enacted, this legislation would help to achieve our state's goal of
having more diversity in our state's police agencies. Moreover, the
state has addressed similar cost of living disparities in state nursing
titles and the Division of State Police. It is also important to note
that this legislation does not mandate these employers provide geograph-
ic pay. Rather, it provides the authorization to make this adjustment to
their pay structures.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7721
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PHEFFER AMATO -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Employees
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to authorizing
geographic pay differentials for certain police officers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 134 of the civil service law is amended by adding a
2 new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
3 8. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, when-
4 ever the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation,
5 commissioner of environmental conservation or chancellor of the state
6 university of New York finds that under community wage practices of
7 police officers in public employment in one or more areas or locations
8 in the state, wage rates of police officers in a given location are
9 substantially higher than the wage rates paid by the state, such commis-
10 sioner may, subject to the approval of the director of the budget,
11 authorize a pay differential to be added as an adjustment to the estab-
12 lished salary rates for the same or related occupations in the regional
13 state park police, forest ranger, environmental conservation officer,
14 and university police officer titles where such individuals are required
15 to work in such areas or locations which are under each respective
16 commissioner and chancellor. A pay differential under this subdivision
17 shall be a percentage or a fixed dollar amount as prescribed in each
18 case by the respective commissioner or chancellor subject to the
19 approval of the director of the budget. Such differentials shall be in
20 addition to and shall not be part of such officer's basic annual salary,
21 and shall not affect or impair any performance advancement payments,
22 performance awards, longevity payments, or other rights or benefits to
23 which such officer may be entitled under the provisions of this chapter,
24 provided, however, that any differential payable pursuant to this subdi-
25 vision shall be included as compensation for overtime and retirement
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11121-01-5
A. 7721 2
1 purposes. A pay differential shall be terminated for any officer when
2 such officer ceases to be employed in the position, or area, or location
3 for which such pay differential was authorized. A pay differential shall
4 remain in effect until terminated by the commissioner or chancellor,
5 with the consent of the director of the budget, or until a new pay
6 differential is authorized pursuant to this subdivision. The director of
7 the budget may adopt such regulations as they may deem necessary to
8 carry out the provisions of this subdivision.
9 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
