BILL NUMBER: S1251
SPONSOR: ADDABBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to establish a task force to study and make recommendations on
school safety in the state of New York
 
PURPOSE:
To create a New York State Task Force on School Safety, which would
consist of professionals in the fields of education, school adminis-
tration, mental health, and law enforcement. Four members would be
appointed by the Governor, four by the Senate Majority Leader, and four
by the Speaker of the Assembly. The Task Force would be charged with
studying the frequency and seriousness of violence that occurs on school
grounds, study the cause of such violence, including the influences of
conditions such as school size and environment, home environment, cyber
abuse, psychological factors and any other influence the task force
deems relevant.
The task force will make recommendations on measures to increase school
safety, and issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature within
one year of the effective date of this law.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1, subsection a - Describes the establishment of a task force to
study school safety at schools in the state of New York. Subsection B
outlines the mandate of the topics the task force would study, including
measures other states have undertaken in order to reduce violence on
school grounds. Subsection c calls for a report to the Governor and
Legislature within one year.
Section 2 - Defines the qualifications of Task Force members.
Subsection d states that members will receive no compensation for their
services, but will be allowed actual necessary expenses in the perform-
ance of their services. Subsection e stipulates that the task force will
be provided with certain facilities for their meetings in order to carry
out their powers and duties.
Section 3 - Effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In light of the recent mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School in Parkland, Florida and the increasing number of other incidents
of gun violence on school grounds that have taken place in recent histo-
ry, New York must immediately take steps to ensure that students in our
state are protected. As there is much disagreement as to how to address
this issue, and no single solution that is going to solve this problem,
it is necessary that professionals who work in an educational environ-
ment, as well as mental health professionals and law enforcement develop
practical solutions in order to address this public safety issue that
threatens the lives of children. Their input into policies and laws
created by the NYS Legislature is essential to solve this epidemic that
is plaguing our country.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019: S.2746 - Passed Senate.
2020: S.2746A - Referred to Senate Education Committee.
2021: S.2208 - Referred to Senate Education Committee.
2022: S.2208 - Referred to Senate Education Committee.
2023: S.1958 - Referred to Senate Education Committee.
2024: S.1958 - Referred to Senate Education Committee.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.