MORE RE: EMPLOYMENT AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

New York State Executive Law Section 296 (15) first refers to New York State Correction Law Article 23-A. Let us examine that statute.

There are six sections - Section 750 to 755. The first, Section 750, deals with definitions and note the definition of employment and the exclusion of law enforcement from that definition:

§  750.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this article, the following
  terms shall have the following meanings:

    (1) "Public agency" means the state or any local subdivision  thereof,
  or any state or local department, agency, board or commission.

    (2)  "Private  employer" means any person, company, corporation, labor
  organization or association which employs ten or more persons.

    (3) "Direct relationship" means that the nature  of  criminal  conduct
  for  which  the person was convicted has a direct bearing on his fitness
  or ability to perform one or more  of  the  duties  or  responsibilities
  necessarily related to the license, opportunity, or job in question.

    (4)  "License"  means  any  certificate,  license,  permit or grant of
  permission  required  by  the  laws  of  this   state,   its   political
  subdivisions or instrumentalities as a condition for the lawful practice
  of any occupation, employment, trade, vocation, business, or profession.
  Provided,  however,  that  "license" shall not, for the purposes of this
  article, include any license or permit to own, possess, carry,  or  fire
  any explosive, pistol, handgun, rifle, shotgun, or other firearm.

    (5)  "Employment" means any occupation, vocation or employment, or any
  form of vocational or  educational  training.  Provided,  however,  that
  "employment"  shall  not,  for  the  purposes  of  this article, include
  membership in any law enforcement agency."