S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4620
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 5, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. P. RIVERA, McENENY, ESPAILLAT, RAMOS, PERALTA,
WEISENBERG, J. RIVERA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, ALFA-
NO, BARRA, BENEDETTO, BUTLER, CHRISTENSEN, COLTON, COOK, CUSICK, DIAZ,
DINOWITZ, FARRELL, HOOPER, JACOBS, JOHN, KOON, V. LOPEZ, MAYERSOHN,
McDONOUGH, NOLAN, ORTIZ, N. RIVERA, ROBINSON, SCARBOROUGH, TOWNS,
WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to bilingual school safe-
ty hotlines
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings and declaration. The legislature here-
by declares that overwhelming evidence indicates that violent acts
performed by schoolchildren are increasing in frequency and intensity.
The legislature finds that these incidents result in senseless deaths
and injuries and psychological trauma to the students, their families
and their communities. The legislature finds that children in school are
impressionable and subject to powerful peer pressure, and therefore,
might be disinclined to report a problem to teachers or other authori-
ties because of intimidation, fear of retribution or a distorted sense
of loyalty to their fellow students. The legislature also finds, howev-
er, that students know better than anyone what is really occurring in
their fellow students' lives and are our best resources for recognizing
the warning signs of potential danger.
The legislature finds and declares it to be its purpose and policy to
reduce school violence by teaching children that they have the same
responsibility as adults to protect each other. The legislature, there-
fore, declares it to be its purpose and policy to provide for a bilin-
gual school safety hotline.
S 2. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 42 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06671-01-9
A. 4620 2
42. A. ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATING SCHOOL SAFETY HOTLINES AS PART OF
A REPORTING MECHANISM OR PROCEDURE FOR THE REPORTING OF VIOLENT INCI-
DENTS PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH J OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT
HUNDRED ONE-A OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL STAFF SUCH HOTLINE BY PERSONNEL
FLUENT IN THE TWO LANGUAGES MOST PREVALENT AMONG STUDENTS OF SUCH
DISTRICT AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER. IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE
SUCH SCHOOL SAFETY HOTLINES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED OR SHALL BE ESTAB-
LISHED, AND WHERE SUCH DISTRICTS BELIEVE THERE TO BE NO SIGNIFICANT
POPULATION OF SPEAKERS OF LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH, THE DISTRICT MAY
APPLY TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR A WAIVER OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR A BILIN-
GUAL HOTLINE.
B. EACH DISTRICT OPERATING SUCH SCHOOL SAFETY HOTLINE SHALL PROVIDE TO
EACH STUDENT IN THE DISTRICT A COPY OF THE SCHOOL SAFETY HOTLINE NUMBER
AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR.
S 3. This act shall take effect September 1, 2010; provided, however,
that effective immediately the commissioner of education is authorized
to adopt any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions
of this act on or before such date.