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New York City Council
Raising the maximum age for taking a civil service examination to become a police officer
Read summaries and jump into the video at the segment start.
Council staff opens the hearing, asks attendees to sign in on electronic devices, and instructs that no one should approach the desk. Chair Feliz is invited to begin.
Councilmember Oswald Feliz, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety, calls the hearing to order and introduces the committee members present both in person and online, including Sanchez, Hankerson, Hanks, Banks, Farias, Wong, Ariola, Gutierrez, and Nurse.
Chair Feliz explains that Proposed Introduction 913A, sponsored by Councilmember Farias, would amend the Administrative Code to raise the maximum age for taking the police officer civil service exam from under 35 to under 43 years of age.
Feliz describes the bill's provision allowing individuals who served on military duty or terminal leave to subtract up to six years of service time from their age for eligibility purposes, recognizing veterans' contributions.
Feliz explains the legislation aligns New York City's age requirements with recent changes to New York State civil service law and expands the pool of candidates eligible to take the police officer exam, supporting NYPD recruitment and retention efforts.
Feliz notes that expanding pathways into public service provides opportunities for individuals with valuable life and professional experience to pursue law enforcement careers, and that the bill recognizes military service by accounting for active duty time in age eligibility.
Councilmember Amanda Farias explains that Intro 913A grew out of conversations with her local precinct council about barriers discouraging qualified New Yorkers from pursuing NYPD careers, and that her office examined where candidates were being lost in the hiring process.
Farias shares that hundreds of candidates were unable to complete the hiring process because they exceeded the maximum age of 35 before appointments were finalized, and that many more never applied because they believed the opportunity was already closed to them.
Farias details that Intro 913A raises the maximum exam age to under 43 and preserves the existing military service deduction of up to six years of active duty or terminal leave. She notes she worked closely with bill drafters to ensure compatibility with the city's hiring and retirement framework.
Farias clarifies that candidates must still pass the civil service exam, background investigation, physical, medical, psychological, educational, and character requirements, and complete academy training. She explains the age of 43 was chosen to remain consistent with the city's retirement framework and allow a full career.
Farias argues that working people spend years building careers, supporting families, serving in the military, and pursuing education, which can delay when they pursue a new profession. She says raising the exam age expands access to stable public service careers and allows the city to consider a wider, more diverse pool of qualified candidates.
Farias expresses pride in advancing the bill, thanks the committee for considering it, and urges all colleagues to vote yes. Chair Feliz then passes the proceedings to the clerk for the vote.
Committee Clerk William Martin conducts the roll call vote on Proposed Introduction 913A. All nine committee members — Feliz, Gutierrez, Hanks, Nurse, Banks, Hankerson, Sanchez, Wong, and Ariola — vote in the affirmative. Councilmember Banks congratulates Farias on the bill.
Clerk Martin announces the bill passed with a vote of nine in the affirmative, zero in the negative, and no abstentions — a full committee vote. Chair Feliz declares the bill passes and adjourns the hearing.