A bill that would require police officers in New York to maintain liability insurance is on the agenda again.
A version of this bill was first introduced in 2019 but it's only ever remained in committee.
CBS 6's Ashley Dager tells us why lawmakers are hopeful to see it pass this year.
"Everyone operates differently" said New York State Assembly Member (D) 29th District Alicia Hyndman "when they know there’s more at stake."
Alicia Hyndman, co-author of a New York State Senate bill returning to this years legislative session, says it is all about preparedness, and providing for families that may lose a loved one, or if someone becomes injured by police.
"I think liability insurance is something that we should really discuss and get passed in the state of New York" said Hyndman. "This is not to punish the officers, this is just in the event that something happens. It should not fall on the taxpayers to pay."
The bill would require police officers to maintain liability insurance.
The bill also states that it would exclude police officers from provisions requiring defense and indemnification of state officers and employees.
"In the city of New York, this year, they’ve had record lawsuits which the city paid out over $121 million, and that’s taxpayer money," said Hyndman.
First introduced in the 2019 to 2020 legislative session by Hyndman, she says she wrote the bill after the murder of George Floyd, and now she believes this bill will have momentum this year.
"It was a pandemic then" said Hyndman. "Now it’s 2023 and as we can see especially with the Tyre Nichols case, that insurance is what probably more people are thinking about than they did in 2020."
Within the bill it also states that the entity that employs them, meaning the municipalities that employ the officers, will be required to cover the base rate of the policy.
"I think this bill if it were to be passed" said Glenville Town Supervisor (R) Chris Koetzle "it would only make it all that much harder to find people who'd want to do the job."
Koetzle says he has concerns on what this bill would do for the municipality, and the lack of officers already in the State.
He says last year there were only 70 applicants in the civil service exam when there's typically 3 to 400.
Koetzle also says, each employee already is insured by the municipality.
"I think the state ought to find more resources to put into training and supporting these officers," said Koetzle. "I think really that's going to be really the answer not making them carry insurance."
Currently this bill is in committee, law makers are working towards getting it on the agenda to be voted on.