File #: Int 0704-2024    Version: * Name: Requiring police officers to treat breathing difficulties as medical emergencies.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 3/19/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the City of New York, in relation to requiring police officers to treat breathing difficulties as medical emergencies
Sponsors: Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Farah N. Louis, Crystal Hudson
Council Member Sponsors: 4
Summary: This bill would require the New York City Police Department to treat breathing difficulties as medical emergencies. This bill would also require police officers to complete training on how to identify and respond to breathing emergencies.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 704, 2. Int. No. 704, 3. March 19, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 3-19-24
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
3/19/2024*Public Advocate Jumaane Williams City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/19/2024*Public Advocate Jumaane Williams City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 704

 

By the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) and Council Members Gutiérrez, Louis and Hudson

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the City of New York, in relation to requiring police officers to treat breathing difficulties as medical emergencies

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 1 of Title 14 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 14-193 to read as follows:

§ 14-193 Breathing difficulties. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Breathing difficulty. The term “breathing difficulty” means any situation in which an individual in police custody displays an inability to breathe, either as recognized by officer observations or through the individual’s own declaration.

Interactive training. The term “interactive training” means participatory teaching that includes trainer-trainee interaction, the use of audio-visuals, computer or online training program or other participatory forms of training as determined by the commissioner. Interactive training is not required to be live or facilitated by an in-person instructor.

Medical emergency. The term “medical emergency” means a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention.

                     b. Breathing difficulties. The department shall respond to breathing difficulties as medical emergencies.

c. Training. 1. New recruits. All new department recruits shall complete interactive training on identifying and responding to breathing difficulties as part of their academy training.

2. Ongoing training. All uniformed members of the department whose responsibilities include routinely interacting with arrested individuals shall complete interactive training on identifying and responding to breathing difficulties every two years.

§2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.

 

 

 

Session 13

LS # 1850

1/25/24

 

Session 12

AM

LS # 1850

7/11/22