STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1536

with Senate Floor Amendments

(Proposed By Senator RICE)

ADOPTED: November 25, 1996

      Senate Bill No. 1536 (1R) permits the governing body of a municipality of the first class with a population of more than 270,000 persons, according to the 1990 federal decennial census, to establish, by ordinance, a housing authority police force to patrol housing authority grounds, buildings, facilities and other areas. The amendment also provides that housing authority police officers would be deemed regular law enforcement officers. As introduced, the bill provided that housing authority police officers would not be deemed regular police officers.

      The amendment further provides that housing authority police officers appointed under this bill would have all the immunities from tort liability and all the pension, relief, disability, workers' compensation, insurance and other benefits enjoyed by regular law enforcement officers while performing their duties.