All right, are we ready in the back?

Good.

One second.

Okay.

Good morning and welcome to today's New York City Council vote on public safety.

At this time, we're asking everyone please sign all electronic device.

And at no time, anyone should approach DayS.

Chair, you may begin.

Good morning.

I'm Councilmember Oswald Felice, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety.

I am joined by committee members Thomas Henry, Justin Sanchez, Ty Hankerson, Hanks, Banks, Farias, Wong, also online, Ariola, Councilmembers Gutierrez, and NERS.

Today the committee will vote on proposed introduction number 913A, sponsored by Councilmember Farias.

This bill would amend the administrative code of the city of New York to raise the maximum age for individuals taking a civil service examination to become a police officer from under 35 years of age to under 43 years of age.

The bill would also allow individuals who have served on military duty or terminal leave to subtract to subtract up to six years of service time from their age for purposes of eligibility.

This legislation would align New York City's age requirements with recent changes made to New York State Civil Service Law and expand the pool of candidates eligible to take the police officer civil service examination.

As the NYPD continues efforts to recruit and retain qualified officers, expanding pathways into public service may help provide additional opportunities for individuals with valuable life and professional experience to pursue a career in law enforcement.

The bill also recognizes the contributions of individuals who have served in the military by accounting for time spent on active duty when determining the age-related requirements.

I'll pass it on to Councilmember Farias for her opening statement.

Thank you, Chair Felice, for the opportunity to speak before the Committee on Public Safety about my bill, introduction 913A.

The impetus for intro 913A came from conversations with my local precinct council about the barriers that may be discouraging qualified New Yorkers from pursuing a career with the NYPD almost over a year ago.

We took a closer look at where candidates were being lost in the hiring process over the last several years.

Hundreds were unable to complete that process because they were exceeded the maximum age of 35 before their appointments were finalized.

And that figure doesn't even account for the New Yorkers who never applied because they believe the opportunity was already closed to them.

Intro 913A would raise the maximum age to take the New York City police officer civil service examination from 35 to under 43.

It would also preserve the existing consideration for eligible military service by allowing candidates to deduct up to six years of active duty service or terminal leave when determining their eligibility.

As we develop the bill, I worked closely with our bill drafters to ensure the language fit within the city's existing hiring and retirement framework.

Candidates would still need to pass the civil service examination, complete the background investigation, meet all applicable physical, medical, psychological, educational, and character requirements, and successfully complete police academy training.

We also intentionally established the new eligibility age at under 43 in order to remain consistent with the city's existing retirement framework and allow successful candidates the opportunity to complete a full career in the department while remaining compatible with current position eligibility requirements.

Working people spend years building careers, supporting their families, serving in the military, pursuing an education and caring for loved ones.

Those responsibilities can affect when someone is positioned to pursue a new profession, while also developing the maturity, discipline, judgment, and experience they can bring to public service.

By raising the examination age, we can expand access to stable public service careers, support the NYPD's broader recruitment efforts, and allow the city to consider a wider, more diverse pool of qualified candidates while continuing to hold every applicant to the same standards.

I'm proud of to be advancing introduction 913A today.

And I respectfully urge all of my colleagues to vote yes today.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Councilmember.

I'll now pass it on to the clerk for the vote.

Thank you.

Good morning.

William Martin, Committee Clerk, roll call vote committee on public safety, and proposed introduction 913A.

Chair Feliz.

Aye.

Gutierrez.

Aye.

Thank you.

Hanks.

I vote aye.

Nurse.

I vote aye.

Thank you.

Banks.

Aye, and congratulations to you, Amanda.

Hankerson.

Aye.

Sanchez.

Aye.

Wang.

Aye.

Ariola.

I vote aye.

Thank you.

With a vote of nine in the affirmative, zero in the negative, and no abstentions.

Item has been approved by the committee.

Mr.

Chair, there is a full committee.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, everyone.

The bill passes.

This hearing is hereby adjourned.

Thank you.