Bill > A00126

This bill provides final discipline authority over civilian complaints to the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) in New York City by creating a new system for investigating and adjudicating complaints against police officers. The legislation establishes that the CCRB will now have the power to not only investigate complaints of police misconduct, but also to prosecute and ultimately determine disciplinary actions through a newly created administrative hearing process. Specifically, the bill empowers the CCRB to appoint at least one civilian hearing officer with no law enforcement background to preside over disciplinary proceedings for substantiated complaints. The hearing officer can impose a range of penalties including reprimands, pay forfeitures, suspensions, and dismissals. Importantly, the police commissioner will no longer have discretion in disciplinary matters related to civilian complaints, meaning the CCRB's recommendations will be binding. The bill also requires the CCRB to create an administrative prosecution unit staffed by attorneys to handle case prosecutions before the hearing officer. These changes aim to make the police complaint and discipline process more independent, transparent, and accountable to the public, while ensuring that the disciplinary system remains under local governance and is not subject to collective bargaining or arbitration.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A126