NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1264 Revised 2/11/2025
SPONSOR: Ramos TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to allowing the
implementation of body cameras on police officers notwithstanding bind-
ing arbitration
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would amend the civil service law in relation to allowing the
implementation of body cameras on police officers without it being an
issue of binding arbitration.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 204-a of the civil service law is amended by adding a new subdi-
vision which state that the terms of any agreement or arbitration
between any public employer and public employee organization represent-
ing police officers approving any increase in pay or expanded duty pay
due for additional or continued duties and responsibilities performed by
police officers with regards to wearing body cameras shall not include
binding arbitration for purposes of authorizing a pay increase or
expanded duty pay.
JUSTIFICATION:
Equipping police officers with body cameras is a tool that creates
greater transparency; adds another layer of officer accountability;
improves communication between police and the public; provides an accu-
rate documentation of events and lowers the reports of misconduct. Due
to the many benefits that come along with the use body cameras on police
officers, many governments are seeking to equip their police departments
with this technology. However, organizations representing police offi-
cers often seek to garner pay increases for their officers, citing addi-
tional duties or responsibilities that lead the matter to be taken up in
binding arbitration.
Technology is ever changing and developing. It continues to reshape
nearly every sector of society. Most jobs see changing technology
frequently - from teachers to retail workers and taxi drivers. Never was
there a greater example of this than during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many
jobs had to find new ways to continue operating and it was technology
that enabled this. Many employees and employees that had to pivot and
come to use technologs, in a way they hadn't before. These improvements
and upgrades in technology are learned by workers without monetary
compensation.
Often new technology streamlines the job and makes it easier. The use of
laptops in patrol cars are a good case in point. A routine traffic stop
by a police officer prior to laptops could have taken 15-20 minutes. Now
it takes about 2 minutes. Before laptops were common in patrol cars, an
officer would have to radio in the driver's information, wait for a call
back from headquarters, look through a manual to find the code number
and fill out the citation by hand. Today, the new technology allows for
an officer to scan documents into a laptop computer, where within
seconds they know if a car is stolen, if there are outstanding warrants
or prior convictions for the same violation. They proceed to choose the
appropriate offense from a pop-up menu and a printer prints out a clear
ticket. Body cameras are another tool in a collection of new technology
that is available to police officers and should not be justification for
binding arbitration, which can could be cost prohibitive to its imple-
mentation, but rather reason to welcome advances in technology that
allows them to keep current in their job and fulfill their duties to
ensure public safety and save lives.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.4823 of 2023-24
A.6072A of 2021-22
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
