A recent surge of credit union robberies has prompted a bill passed in the state Senate that would bring penalties into line with those for banks.

"Right now robbing a credit union is not punished as severely as robbing other types of banks," Senator Patty Ritchie, a cosponsor, said. “This legislation will clarify the law to insure that robberies of credit unions are treated just as severely as robberies from any other banking institution.”

"With the recent surge over the past few years in bank and credit union robberies in Northern and Central New York, we need to send a strong message that this kind of conduct will face severe consequences," Ritchie said.

"The legislation insures that robberies involving any kind of threat to bank and credit union tellers, whether in a note or in a verbal threat, will have the same severe consequences as displaying a weapon.”

Under existing law, robbery of a credit union could be classified as low as a Class D Felony, depending on the amount of money stolen.

Second degree robbery is a Class C Felony, punishable by a prison sentence of five to 15 years.

The bill, S 4194, was sent to the Assembly.

Senator Joseph Griffo also sponsored the bill.