BILL NUMBER: S4814
SPONSOR: RYAN C
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to grants to cover the
costs of school resource officers and authorizing boards of cooperative
educational services to enter into contracts with local police entities
to provide school resource officers
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to provide grants to cover the costs of
school resource officers and authorizes boards of cooperative educa-
tional services to enter into contracts with local police entities to
provide school resource officers.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill would require that for the 2024-2025 school year
and subsequent school years, eligible school districts receive grants in
aid equal to one hundred percent of the combined annual salaries paid to
school resource officers, and other similar positions, employed at
schools in the district and define such eligible employees.
Section 2 of this bill would authorize a board of cooperative educa-
tional services to enter into a contract with local police entities to
provide school resource officers, provided that such officers' salary
shall be eligible for the grant salary coverage program.
Section 3 of this bill provides that this bill shall take effect imme-
diately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
School resource officers are an essential asset to school safety. With
the rise in school shootings across the nation, it is vital to have a
school resource officer or a special patrol officer in all school build-
ings throughout all school districts in New York State. These officers
are more than a security guard as they are trained and certified in law
enforcement and have specialized knowledge to help with safety planning,
school-safety policy, and most importantly emergency response prepared-
ness.
This bill seeks to alleviate budget burdens on school districts when
hiring a resource officer or special patrol officer. School districts
would be reimbursed at 100% when hiring an officer to serve and protect
the children of the State while they are at school. This bill also
creates an option for local school districts to enter into contracts
with local police entities to provide school resource officers in
schools. Families in the State should know that their children are safe
when going to school.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S6629B - (Mannion) - Amended & Recommitted to Education.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S4814: 3641 education law, 1950 education law, 1950(4) education law