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Bill

S 7086

Reclassifies court officers and court clerks of the unified court system under the definition of police officer; repealer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Lanza

Reclassifies unified court system court officers and clerks as police officers, aligning their powers, training, and oversight with police-officer statutes.

REFERRED TO CODES
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 7086

Bill Summary: S 7086

Title

Reclassifies court officers and court clerks of the unified court system under the definition of police officer; repealer

Status and Actions

  • Introduced: April 1, 2025
  • Status: REFERRED TO CODES
  • Legislative actions: 2025-04-01: REFERRED TO CODES (listed twice in the record)
  • Sponsor: Andrew J. Lanza (primary)
  • Related legislation: S 5363 (prior-session); A 4235 (companion)

Purpose and Intent

The bill seeks to reclassify court officers and court clerks who work within the unified court system as police officers under the state's definition of police officer. The accompanying repealer indicates it would remove existing provisions that currently define or treat these court personnel differently, aligning them with the statutory framework governing police officers.

Key Provisions (inference from title and summary)

  • Reclassification: All court officers and court clerks within the unified court system would be reclassified to meet the statutory definition of police officer.
  • Repealer: The bill would repeal provisions that presently describe or regulate court officers/clerks outside of the police-officer framework or that conflict with the new classification.
  • Overlay of authority and duties: By adopting the police-officer definition, these court personnel may gain or be aligned with typical police powers, duties, training requirements, and oversight applicable to other peace officers (subject to the specifics of the state’s police-officer statute). The exact scope of powers, training standards, certification, firearms eligibility (if any), and disciplinary processes would be determined by the police-officer-related provisions in state law.

Note: The summary relies on the bill’s title and standard implications of “reclassification” and “repealer.” The exact language would specify which duties are affected and how.

Affected Parties

  • Primary: Court officers and court clerks employed by the unified court system.
  • Secondary: Employers (the court system), law enforcement agencies, and oversight bodies that administer police-officer powers and benefits (e.g., training programs, eligibility for certain protections, pensions).

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • The bill has been referred to the Codes Committee (April 1, 2025), indicating it will undergo committee review, potential amendments, and floor consideration.
  • As a companion to A 4235 and related S 5363, progress could be influenced by actions on those measures in the other house or during prior-session dynamics.

Potential Impacts to Watch

  • Changes to authority, training requirements, and eligibility for police benefits or protections for court personnel.
  • Repealer provisions could streamline or harmonize language across statutes but may also create transitional needs (e.g., how benefits or duties transfer under the new classification).
  • Budgetary and administrative effects related to training, equipment, and oversight.

This summary provides the essential information available from the bill’s title and status. The exact text will define the precise scope and implementation details.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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